Saguaro catcher welcomed by baseball community after grueling journey from Venezuela
It took four months, crossing through several countries—some of it by foot—surviving on one meal a day, seeing people along the way who didn't make it.
Scottsdale Saguaro's 16-year-old sophomore catcher Alain Gudino-Gomez survived the move from Venezuela with his parents and 11-year-old sister to find a better life. A safer life, where he's been lovingly embraced by a baseball community, and catching maybe the best high school pitcher in America.
They got here in November, found an immigration attorney, and went through a process for Gudino-Gomez to be part of the Sabercats' team.
"For my sister and myself, it's to better our lives, so we can study here," Gudino-Gomez said through a translator before a recent game. "At first it was meeting people who spoke Spanish. But it's getting easier. I get along well with everyone."
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Early in the season, he had to get used to catching Cam Caminiti, a senior left-hander, who has all of Major League Baseball tracking every pitch he throws this season. In a game early in the season against Deer Valley, in which Caminiti struck out the first 16 batters, one of his 97 mph fastballs broke through the webbing of Gudino-Gomez's glove.
"He was catching me with a kid's glove," Caminiti said. "I broke right through that first game. But I got him a new glove. He's good there. But he's been a huge help for me. It's been tough with the English barrier. But growing up, I went to Pueblo (Elementary School, taking Spanish), so I speak a little bit of Spanish. So I can talk to him a little bit, which is good. He's a great kid. I love having him around."
Gudino-Gomez said he's gotten more comfortable over time catching Caminiti.
With the returning starter out with an injury, he's been asked to handle maybe the best trio of pitchers in the state with Caminiti, Cade Shumard (New Mexico State signee) and Billy Gregory (Grand Canyon), for the top-rated high school baseball team (16-3) in 4A.
Coming into his own on campus
Saguaro coach Joe Muecke said his school was fortunate to have Gudino-Gomez show up on campus.
"We feel like we've helped him as much as he's helped us," Muecke said. "He found a home here. It speaks volumes to our community, the outreach. There's amazing staff here, helping get him acclimated and assimilated in how things go. Every step of the way, watching the community rally around the family makes it special."
But it wasn't easy getting here.
The family set off together on a journey not knowing how they would wind up. They had to go through Central America, including Panama, then spent two months in Mexico, before crossing over into the United States and claiming asylum.
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Gudino-Gomez and his family have been helped by a Phoenix bilingual attorney, Rene Siqueiros, who is navigating the family through the immigration process that can take years to resolve.
"There really is no 'quote unquote ' right way to do it, because the immigration laws here are so strict," Siqueiros said. "It's just so broken, as well. For individuals who have legitimate claims for asylum, like Alain and his parents, it's so difficult for them to get some sort of immigration relief."
Sigueiros said the family was detained by immigration officials as part of the process, and placed in deportation proceedings, but they have a right to fight it before an immigration judge.
"That's going to take quite a few years," Siquieros said. "As you can imagine, it's just packed. There's not enough resources as far as judges are involved in adjudicating these cases. It's going to take a few years. But I'm assisting them in that process."
Overcoming the daunting journey to get here
Gudino-Gomez's parents, Lislen and Joel, were able to get work authorization. His mom works as a dog groomer, his father runs a food truck. Both make it out to see him play baseball, supporting him through school. Academics is big for them, and he's succeeding there, too, as well as hitting .310 with 16 RBIs as a switch-hitter for the Sabercats.
But the road to get here was treacherous. They saw others who didn't make it.
"Muchos," Alain's father said.
They went from Venezuela to Columbia to Panama. They would spend five days on foot at times. Other times they would travel by bus, and also by canoe.
They had to cross rivers, mountains and rain forests.
"It was better than getting robbed by being in mountains," Alain's mother said through an interpreter.
They would eat one meal a day to save the food they packed with them. One of those meals would be a can of tuna among them. Alain was always in the lead when they walked for miles and miles.
"It was life or death," said Lislen, who speaks no English, through the interpreter about wanting to leave Venezuela. "There's an opportunity here. It's a better future."
Former Major League Baseball player David Segui, who has two sons playing for Arcadia's baseball team, helped with translating for the parents. Segui said it was the same reason why his dad came over from Cuba when he was a kid.
"It's for a better opportunity," Segui said.
Gudino-Gomez adjusting to English, life here with his teammates
Gudino-Gomez is working on his English. During the two months they spent in Mexico, he studied English, trying to grasp onto words.
"There was a teacher in English class that I took," he said through the translator. "I was building on that listening to new friends."
He said the hardest part of the journey was navigating the rain forests in Panama and Mexico. But he said they were blessed being able to buy food.
In Scottsdale, he became friends with sophomore shortstop Zander Bratspis.
"I try to help him out as much as I can," Bratspis said. "Whenever I'm training, I invite him to our house. I try to be the best friend I can for him, because they came over here not knowing anybody but some of his family. I try to be like family to him."
Dominic Caminiti, Cam's dad, has gotten to know Alain.
"The young man is special," Dominic said. "For Cam, Billy and Cade, Saguaro has got a catcher that will help showcase their skills on the mound. But more importantly a friend for life.
"There are so many beautiful things that happen in baseball that has zero to do with the score or the outcome of the game."
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Saguaro catcher's long journey from Venezuela gives hope for future
