Pirates' Diaz on mother's kidnapping: 'Nobody really prepares themselves for something like that'

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Elias Diaz discussed for the first time his mother's kidnapping in Venezuela, saying "nobody really prepares themselves for something like that," but she is doing better after being rescued last weekend.

Ana Isabel Soto, 72, was kidnapped on Feb. 8 as Diaz was preparing to travel for spring training in Bradenton, Fla. She was rescued three days later by Venezuelan police and security officers.

Diaz, who was given permission to arrive late to camp so he could spend time with his mother, spoke to reporters Sunday about the frightening ordeal.

Diaz said the discovery that police officers and a longtime family friend were involved in the kidnapping has him trying to move family members out of his native Venezuela.

"Going back and realizing that situation, it kind of just removes the trust, the trust of your roots and makes you want to detach from your roots and maybe even question do I want to go back, do I want to remain there," Diaz said in Spanish, with interpreter Mike Gonzalez translating to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "You kind of lose the trust and it makes it more aware of your surroundings."

Diaz said money motivated the six kidnappers, five of whom were police officers. His family did not have to pay ransom.

"Nobody really prepares themselves for something like that," Diaz said. "Nobody takes the time to think that through and try to even imagine what that could feel like. However, when it hit me, it hit me like a ton of bricks. It was a very tough situation to deal with. But when I did find out the news that we found my mom, I can tell you that the joy that I felt was overwhelming."

This is not the first time kidnappers have targeted Venezuelan athletes or their relatives. In 2009, then-Colorado Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba waited in anguish as his 11-year-old son was rescued from kidnappers. Former Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos was kidnapped in 2011 but later was found alive and unharmed after an air rescue.

"The goal is to get (his immediate family) out of Venezuela," Diaz said. "It's a tough process but that's the goal."

Diaz, 27, hit .223 with one home run and 19 RBIs in 64 games as a backup last season.

--Field Level Media