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Relatives Of Rockies Catcher Safe After Kidnapping

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Jun 4, 2009 6:23 pm US/Mountain

Relatives Of Rockies Catcher Safe After Kidnapping

DENVER (AP) ― The Colorado Rockies said catcher Yorvit Torrealba's 11-year-old son and his brother-in-law have been released after they were kidnapped in Venezuela, Torrealba's home country.

The club said in a written statement Thursday the pair were kidnapped by "unknown parties in exchange for ransom" but have been reunited safely with family. The statement didn't say whether a ransom was paid, how the pair were released or when the kidnapping occurred.

Torrealba left the Rockies, who are playing in Houston, on Tuesday to be with his family in Venezuela and work with authorities there to secure the return of his son, Yorvit Eduardo, who turns 12 next month.

In the statement, Rockies club President Keli McGregor said the team was relieved by the outcome and is standing by Torrealba.

"Yorvit knows that he can take the time he needs and will rejoin the club when the time is right," McGregor said.

In South American countries such as Venezuela, home to dozens of major league players, the families of wealthy athletes often kidnapped in hopes of getting a hefty ransom. The mother of former pitcher Ugueth Urbina spent more than five months in captivity until she was rescued in early 2005.

About that same time, the mothers of five Brazilian soccer players were abducted, including those of star strikers Robinho and Luis Fabiano, in Brazil.

The Rockies put Torrealba on their restricted list when he left for Venezuela. Edwin Bellorin was called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs to take his place on the roster.

Because of Torrealba's situation, the Rockies didn't have to make a corresponding roster move.

Torrealba was hitting .230 with two home runs and seven RBIs in 19 games for the Rockies when he left. He had started six of eight games since starter Chris Iannetta was placed on the disabled list May 24 with a strained right hamstring.

Torrealba joined the Rockies in 2006 and played an integral role a year later in the club's first NL pennant.

His work with young Latin pitchers was lauded as a big reason for Colorado's first trip to the World Series, where they were swept by the Boston Red Sox.

(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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