SF Giants’ Matos, Rodriguez ‘doing fine’ following U.S.’s large-scale strike in Venezuela

Giants general manager Zack Minasian told reporters on Monday afternoon that outfielder Luis Matos and catcher Jesus Rodriguez, who are playing in the Venezuelan Winter League, are both “doing fine.”

On Saturday, the United States conducted a large-scale attack against Venezuela and captured president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.

“We’re in communication with them and it sounds like, knock on wood, they’re in a safe spot and they’re doing find and they’re not anxious to leave or anything like that,” Minasian said on Monday during a video call with reporters after the team officially announced Tyler Mahle’s one-year deal.

Right-handed reliever José Buttó, who is also Venezuelan, is currently in Florida.

The United States deployed more than 150 aircraft, and loud explosions rang out in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, around 2 a.m. local time. Videos of the aftermath soon circulated on social media.

One of the locations in Venezuela that the United States struck was the port in La Guaira, the city of Matos’ team, Tiburones de La Guaira. Rodriguez’s team, Tigres de Aragua, play several hours south of Caracas.

On Monday morning, the Venezuelan Winter League’s board of directors announced its playoffs will resume on Wednesday following a delay due to the attacks.

In addition to Matos and Rodriguez, Giants minor leaguers Diego Velasquez, Osleivis Basabe, Averson Arteaga and Victor Bericoto have played in the Venezuelan Winter League during its current season.

In December, the Dominican Republic (LIDOM), Mexico (Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico) and Puerto Rico (Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente) announced they would not be sending teams to the annual Caribbean Series due to brewing turmoil between the United States and Venezuela. The Caribbean Series was scheduled for early February in Caracas.

Matos, who is out of minor-league options, and Rodriguez are both expected to compete for a spot on the Giants’ Opening Day roster during spring training. Matos is hitting .108 with a .255 OPS over 18 games for Tiburones de La Guaira, while Rodriguez has a .243 batting average with one home run a .720 OPS in 17 games for Tigres de Aragua.