Willson Contreras Quietly Speaking for Those Who Can’t

Willson Contreras is as exciting a young player as there is in baseball. Not only is he good, he is fun to watch. He has a young, free spirit on the diamond. Is a plus defender and solid offensive contributor. The type of guy you want on your team. The type of guy that makes your team better and baseball look fun.

While Willson is making baseball look fun, know his head and heart are being shared with the Venezuelan people. His heart is certainly heavy, and it is because of the turmoil in Venezuela and the riots that have sprung up against their president, Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuela Economy

One of the largest economic falls is happening right now in Venezuela, and it is hardly being discussed. Venezuela, which sits upon the world’s largest oil reserves, has been the world’s weakest performer in terms of growth of GDP, according to Al Jazeera. Due to their weakened economic state, unemployment rates have skyrocketed to 17% and have been estimated to blow past 20% by the end of the year.

The basic necessities to live are near impossible to find or afford. Food is scarce and 85 out of 100 medicines are missing from the country. Even if you do have money, a bolivar is worthless, equating to about $0.10 American. Necessities are so scarce, some Venezuelans have even resorted to flying to the US just to buy a roll of toilet paper.

The most recent report by CENDAS (Centre for Documentation and Social Analysis) indicates that in March 2017 a family of five needed to collect 1.06 million bolivars to pay for the basic basket of goods for one month, that includes food and hygiene items, as well as spending on housing, education, health and basic services.

They are suffering. Due to a change in economic policies, there is very little their government can do to turn their fortunes.

President Maduro has increased minimum wage by 65% and salaries as a whole by nearly 35%. The country attempted to flood the country with bolivar, but it effectively made it worthless within the country and outside of it.

Venezuela’s Rich Past

This wasn’t always the case. Venezuela was once one of the 20 richest countries in the world. With a large disparity between the rich and poor, the late president Hugo Chavez promised to share oil profits with the poor. From 1999 to 2013, oil prices skyrocketed from $10 a barrel to over $100.

Maduro wasn’t as lucky. Upon taking office in 2013, oil prices dropped by nearly 50%. A nation built on the back of oil, Maduro doubled down on Chavez’s socialist policies. With the country reeling, Maduro has crossed the Venezuelan people. What money the nation does have, they are using it to pay off debts instead of buying food and medicines. And to keep his power reign continuing, he has called an assembly to rewrite the constitution.

This would certainly delay any elections, ensuring Maduro would retain power past 2018. Equally evil, Maduro has placed several top military officials in government posts, ensuring if there were a coup, he can forcibly remain president.

Prices skyrocketing on common goods, basic medicines becoming near impossible to find, the people were outraged. With people protesting, and the crowds becoming larger and louder, the Venezuelan Supreme Court stripped the opposition leading congress of their power.

Dangerous Riots

The government’s moved added more fuel to the disdain, and more and more began to rise up against their government. With the rise, rioters have been met with tear gas, water cannons, and in some scuffles, death. Most notably, “The Mother of All Protests” which ended with six dead, dozens injured, and more than 200 detained. As recent as this week, an armored car went head on with a wave of protesters, at the end of that day, 300 more were injured.

“It is common to find people scavenging for food at garbage dumps and everywhere people are eating off garbage cans,” said the father-of-one who spoke on condition that his last name was not used out of fear of government reprisal to NBC. “People are starving. You see misery everywhere.”

Those who could afford to flee the country, are doing so. Once strong Venezuelan allies are urging them to heed caution and release political prisoners. Their people are suffering and because the government is limiting free press, the nation’s story is hard to tell.

Willson’s Promise

It is hurting Venezuelans at home and afar. This is why Willson Contreras has sworn himself to silence over social media.

I’m not gonna tweet until my country gets better.. it’s really sad to watch videos where the military kills innocent people. Good afternoon

— Willson Contreras (@WContreras40) April 30, 2017

This isn’t a normal thing for people to deal with, and it is incredibly tough on Venezuelan ballplayers. It is a dark cloud that lingers while they go about their day. We as fans ask them to go 3 for 4 with 4 RBIs, but we don’t realize the pain they feel because of their country’s current turmoil.

The Cubs have three of the 74 active Venezuelan ballplayers, Contreras, Miguel Montero, and Hector Rondon. Montero, who recently earned his US Citizenship, is also feeling for his homeland.

Great game today, but pls keep praying for Venezuela we need the world to know what’s happening #freedom #electionsnow #maduroout

— Miguel Montero (@miggymont26) April 22, 2017

All foreign players leave part of their heart at home. It is hard for American players to be away from their home six months of the year. Extremely difficult for a foreign player to come here without much contact with their friends and family back home. It all pales in comparison to what most Venezuelans are going through now.

To be thousands of miles from home and not being able to help is tough. Adding to the hardship, Venezuela has denied most aid efforts from outside nations and organizations. Imagine playing a game for three hours while not knowing for sure if your mom was able to eat or bathe.

Making matters worse, Venezuela has withdrawn from Organization of American States, which according to the OAS website is, “an order of peace and justice, to promote their solidarity, to strengthen their collaboration, and to defend their sovereignty, their territorial integrity, and their independence.” This further alienates Venezuela from the rest of the free world, especially those countries closest to them.

To be blunt, the Venezuelan government is failing, their economy is nonexistent, health is at an all-time low, and their people are dying. Venezuela needs help, but Venezuela won’t allow that help to come.

I’ll leave you with this impassioned note.

My message to the Venezuelan diaspora pic.twitter.com/ApSt4Pgxsn

— Joanna Hausmann (@Joannahausmann) May 4, 2017

Pray for Venezuela.