Omar López had spent weeks coordinating with organizers and communicating with players. By early June, enough groundwork had been laid to believe a November parade through Venezuela commemorating the 2026 World Baseball Classic championship team might come true. "The first of its kind," López told ESPN on June 9.

Fifteen days later, twin earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 hit northern Venezuela on June 24, devastating Caracas and La Guaira. Thousands died, tens of thousands were unaccounted for, and billions in damages were sustained. Days later, López circled back with key team members, and they agreed the parade should be put off.

On Aug. 3, the government announced the confirmed death toll had risen to 6,125, with 60,992 treated in hospitals and 43,679 households affected. López's focus has shifted from celebration to salvation. He wants the team to gather in Venezuela to raise funds, host clinics, deliver supplies, and assist cleanup. He broached the subject with Salvador Perez, Ronald Acuna Jr., Maikel Garcia, and others.

Miguel Rojas, whose family was in Caracas during the quakes, said, "It's really hard to go to sleep." Boston's Willson Contreras broke down in tears, and Dodgers catcher Eliezer Alfonzo lost his sister and stepmother. The team now aims to help, not celebrate.