Former MLB pitcher's mother kidnapped
Last Updated: Monday, November 9, 2009 | 1:39 PM ET
The Associated Press
Former MLB pitcher Victor Zambrano's mother was kidnapped Monday. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)The mother of former Major League Baseball pitcher Victor Zambrano has been kidnapped.
Elizabeth Mendez Zambrano was abducted Sunday morning from her son's farm near Maracay in central Venezuela, Zambrano's agent, Peter Greenberg, said.
In Venezuela, which is home to dozens of major league players, the families of wealthy athletes are periodically targeted by kidnappers.
Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba's son and brother-in-law were released by kidnappers a day after they were abducted in June.
Zambrano played seven big league seasons for Tampa Bay, the New York Mets, Toronto and Baltimore. The right-hander has a career record of 45-44 with a 4.64 earned-run average.
He hasn't appeared in a major league game since 2007.
Toronto signed Zambrano as a reclamation project after the 2006 season but he was ineffective for the Blue Jays, with a gaudy ERA of 10.97 in eight appearances, which included two starts.
Baltimore gave him a subsequent shot, but he couldn't latch on.
With files from CBCSports.ca
