Tuesday was a big night for L.A. Dodgers pitcher Brusdar Graterol. Not only did his team beat the Detroit Tigers, but, for the very first time, his mom was there to see it! After seven years, Ysmalia Graterol has finally been able to travel to the United States from Venezuela to visit her son. Their reunion was moving, to say the least!
“It was so incredible. I’ve always wanted to pitch in front of my mom,” Graterol said through his interpreter, according to ESPN. “Being so successful as I’ve been pitching lately, it was so emotional and nice to have her here. We never really gave up on any situation, and luckily we found a way to get her to the United States.”
Ysmalia unfortunately missed many of the biggest milestones of Graterol’s adult life and career because she was unable to come to the U.S. While these moments were heartbreaking at the time, both mother and son are grateful to be together again.
“There have been a lot of things that have been very hard,” said the pitcher. “When I made my debut, she wasn’t here. When I got married, she wasn’t here. When I had my daughter, she wasn’t here. Those are very difficult times. But to be able to now share that and be there with her is special.”
Graterol’s teammates were thrilled to see the player share a special moment with his mom.
“It was emotional. How can you not appreciate that moment for Brusdar and his family?” asked manager Dave Roberts. “The players rallied around it, and it was good to see.”
Ysmalia arrived in the U.S. on Sunday, a couple of days before the big game. It was a heartfelt meeting for both mother and son!
“All I heard my mom say was that I was very big and very beautiful,” Graterol recalled. “And the only thing that I told her when I calmed down, I told her that she smelled like home.”
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