Highlights
- After years of separation due to US-Venezuela tensions, Phillies reliever José Alvarado finally reunited with his mother, Crelia, who now watches him pitch in person.
- Alvarado’s emotional 2023 plea sparked action from Senator Casey and MLB officials, helping his family overcome visa hurdles by December 2023.
- Alvarado has found peace with his parents and other family members living with him in South Jersey.
For Philadelphia Phillies reliever José Alvarado, Mother’s Day 2025 was not just a day on the calendar; it was a full-circle moment years in the making.
As he stepped onto the mound wearing a special cap honoring his mother, Crelia Lizarzabal, the cheers at Citizens Bank Park carried a deeper meaning.
For the first time in years, his mother watched him pitch in person, not through a screen from Venezuela, not via a shaky phone call, but from the stands, right there with him in Philadelphia.
A Family Torn Apart By Geopolitics
Born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, Jose Alvarado’s story is about passion, perseverance, and love.
He left school at age 14 to help support his family in a city plagued by crime and poverty.
Baseball wasn’t even his first love. In fact, he played soccer, but fate, a sharp-eyed physical education teacher, and his natural left-handed throwing power pointed him toward the pitcher’s mound.
Nonetheless, Alvarado’s heart was never quite at peace despite his rise in professional baseball.
The U.S. government’s suspension of diplomatic relations with Venezuela in 2019 made travel nearly impossible for his family.
The U.S. embassy in Caracas was shuttered and visa processing halted.
And José, despite his stardom, couldn’t bring his own mother to watch him chase his dream.
Crelia Lizarzabal, who had once visited José in Florida before her visa expired, spent years stuck in Venezuela.
Meanwhile, José built a successful MLB career while separated from the people who mattered most.
The Breaking Point
In October 2023, before Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series, Alvarado finally said what he had kept bottled up for years.
“It’s so hard, man. My mom called me after the game, crying because she missed the World Series last year… I tried to bring her here, and they wouldn’t give her a visa. It’s so hard.”
Via MLB
His words hit like one of his 100-mph sinkers; straight to the heart. That emotional plea during a press conference sparked action.
Help came from unexpected sources, including the office of U.S. Senator Bob Casey, which issued a congressional inquiry on behalf of the family.
The Phillies’ legal team, Alvarado’s personal lawyer, and MLB officials all rallied to help the family navigate the complex humanitarian parole process.
Then, finally, on December 9, 2023, the dream came true.
Crelia, José’s sister Mariu, and his two children, Dylan and Victoria, landed in Miami after a long journey through Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.
His father, brother Dario, and a third child were already in the U.S.
That Christmas, José and his mother wrapped hallacas in plantain leaves in the kitchen of the Miami home he had bought for them.
It was the first time in years the family had been together, and it felt like a rebirth.
A New Chapter
Since their reunion, Crelia has been at José’s side.
She lives with him in South Jersey, attends nearly every Phillies home game, and ensures he’s fed with her legendary pabellón criollo.
José said, laughing,
“She’s like the best cook. I need to be careful — she’s so good.”
Via Inquirer
Her presence has brought peace to a man once haunted by loneliness.
Now, when Alvarado walks off the mound, he knows his family is waiting at home.
His mind is clearer, his focus sharper, and his heart is finally whole.
He says,
“It’s like I can sleep now. I’ve got my kids, my mom waiting for me every night. That’s so special.”
Via Inquirer
For all of his postseason heroics and his status as one of the most dominant relievers in baseball, José Alvarado’s greatest victory has come off the field.
Félix Olivo, Alvarado’s agent and friend said,
“His mom is everything to him. He dies for his mother.”
Via Inquirer
Now, every pitch José throws is not just for the Phillies; it’s also for her.
