The baseball world is mourning alongside former Major League Baseball player Gorkys Hernandez after he confirmed his wife, Deisy Tovar, died in the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela. The 36-year-old lost her life when the hotel she was staying in collapsed during the rare double-earthquake that has claimed more than 1,400 lives.
Hernandez, 38, shared the sad news on Instagram on Saturday, June 27, just one day after asking the public not to spread unconfirmed information about his wife’s condition. The former San Francisco Giants outfielder posted a moving tribute to Tovar, whom he married in December 2025.
The Tragic Events of the Earthquake
Tovar was staying at the Hotel Eduards in La Guaira, a coastal city in Venezuela, when the earthquakes hit on Wednesday, June 24. She was there with family members of other players on Hernandez’s La Guaira Delfines baseball team. The team was preparing to play a game when the disaster struck.
Two powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, hit the country within just 39 seconds of each other. The tremors caused the seven-story hotel to collapse completely, trapping many people inside.
Hernandez and his teammates rushed to the hotel after the earthquakes, but sadly, his wife could not be saved.
Hernandez’s Heartbreaking Tribute
The former MLB player expressed his deep grief through a detailed Instagram post that touched many fans and fellow athletes.
“Queen of my life, you are and always will be the most beautiful, lovely, precious, the best woman in the world, the one who always found a way to lift me up in bad times. You were and are the most beautiful woman in my life. You will always be with me, at every hour and in every moment. Fly high, my princess, my queen. May God have you in his glory and guide me to keep going and lift up our family.”
He continued his tribute, showing his determination to carry on for her.
“I love you, I love you. Rest in peace, my girl. Give strength, love of my life, because we had a mission, and here I am to fulfill it for you. You taught me to be strong at any moment in life, which is not easy, but you love me this way, and that’s how it will be. My warrior, Deisy Maria Tovar De Hernandez.”
The Growing Death Toll and Missing Persons
The situation in Venezuela remains critical as rescue teams continue searching through the rubble. The death toll has reached 1,430 as of Saturday evening, with thousands more injured and many still unaccounted for.
According to the missing persons website Desaparecidos Terremoto Venezuela, more than 78,000 people had been reported missing as of June 27. While over 13,000 of these have since been located, around 51,000 people remain unaccounted for.
The Venezuelan government confirmed that more than 3,300 people were injured in the disaster. The United Nations reported that the earthquakes affected more than six million people across the country.
Baseball Community Shows Support
Fellow players and fans have shown their support for Hernandez during this difficult time. The La Guaira Delfines team, along with the entire Venezuelan baseball community, has expressed condolences to the family.
The Liga Mayor de Beisbol (LMB) has suspended the 2026 season following the tragedy that has devastated the coastal state and other parts of the country.
Other players have also been affected by the disaster. Former MLB catcher Eliezer Alfonzo reportedly has family members who were in the same hotel when it collapsed. The wife and daughter of former MLB player Alvaro Espinoza were also reported among the missing.
Deisy Tovar Leaves Behind a Daughter
Tovar, who was 36, leaves behind a daughter named Vittoria Vasquez from a previous relationship. The couple had only been married for about six months before the tragedy struck.
Tovar was remembered by Hernandez as someone who always found ways to lift him up during difficult moments. He called her a “warrior” and expressed his commitment to continuing their shared mission.
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Rescue Efforts Continue
Rescue crews are still working tirelessly to find survivors among the rubble. The earthquakes caused widespread destruction across northern Venezuela, with buildings collapsing in Caracas and other regions.
The back-to-back earthquakes were followed by around 300 aftershocks, making rescue operations more dangerous and difficult. The United Nations reported that more than 50,000 people remain missing across the country.
Argentina has sent specialized rescue teams and trained dogs to assist with the search efforts in the hardest-hit areas.
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