ORLANDO, Fla. — A 16-year-old Venezuelan immigrant came to the U.S. with his mother to escape the crisis in his homeland and pursue his dream of playing baseball.
- Alejandro, 16, came to US to pursue baseball dreams
- He said he wants to be Major League Baseball player
“(My mom) always tells me we moved me here … to have a better future in baseball and academics,” Alejandro Colmenares said.
Alejandro and his mother applied for asylum, but there has still been no word if they’ll get it.
The transition into his Central Florida community was not easy for Alejandro.
When Alejandro first came to Central Florida, he didn’t know a word of English.
But he was able to communicate on the baseball field. He said all he needed to know where the baseball signs.
“I kept going like right or left?” Alejandro said while he made hand gestures. “(If they show me the right hand), then I move right. (If they show me the left hand), left then I move left.”
His coach, Anthony Asenjo, said many of his players are in a similar situation as Alejandro.
“They’re all trying to get off the island or wherever they’re from for that big dream I guess,” Anthony said.
Anthony said he still remembers what the kid from Valencia, Venezuela with major league dreams looked like the day they met.
“Skinny, frail — I call him Palito, which means little stick,” Anthony said.
That first meeting led to Alejandro joining his team, the Ace of Spades. But that wasn’t all. It also resulted in a new family.
“He came in for a batting practice lesson, and (his mother and I) just became friends, and then I was going through my divorce and fell in love. I guess a typical love story, right?” Anthony said.
Explaining that love story to Alejandro was a little odd at first.
“He was happy actually, he was really happy, but like every kid, they have an idea,” Anthony said.
Once they tie the knot, Alejandro and his mom can receive a green card to stay in the U.S., and Alejandro can continue to chase his major league dreams.
The marriage would be subject to a screening by immigration officials since the asylum case is still pending.
Anthony says his stepson Alejandro helped inspire him to collect donations to help his players in similar situations pay for school.