LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Atlanta Braves joined a growing list of major league clubs offering their support for peace in Venezuela on Sunday morning by taking a group photograph holding up flags and signs offering various positive messages.
The Braves players, including Latin American pitchers Julio Teheran and Luis Avilan and U.S.-born catcher Evan Gattis, who played in Venezuela, a country divided in bitter and violent political turmoil, offered messages in Spanish roughly translated to "We are all Venezuela" and "Venezuela is not alone." Avilan and minor league first baseman Ernesto Mejia are the two Venezuelan natives on Atlanta's 40-man roster. Braves coaches Eddie Perez and Luis Salazer -- both Venezuelan natives -- also joined in to voice their support.
Avilan tweeted out the photo in support:
#PrayForVenezuela pic.twitter.com/cncxzwIVzx
— luis armando avilan (@lavilan70) February 23, 2014
In recent days, with teams hitting their spring training schedule and the South American nation's troubles mounting, more and more teams have offered similar tributes -- among them, the Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins. According to FOX Sports' Jon Morosi's column from Arizona's spring training sites, the San Francisco Giants will make a video to offer their support.
Expect more to follow suit.
