Willson Contreras dedicates emotional home run to Venezuela, prays for country's future

ST. LOUIS - A first-inning home run Sunday was profoundly moving for Cardinals veteran catcher Willson Conteras. He expressed heavy emotions rounding the bases and embraced fellow catcher Pedro Pagés in the dugout with the future of his native Venezuela at the top of his mind.

Contreras spoke in depth after Sunday's game about the future of his country and the consequences of the presidential election for Venezuela.

“For the past 25 years, we have people there — and me, I was part of it — we have lived in a dictatorship," said Contreras. "I really pray to God that it comes to an end. But I really pray to the U.S. government to keep an eye on it because they’re going to do whatever they’re going to do to stay in power."

"Today in my country, it’s going to be one of the biggest days in Venezuela’s history," he continued. "I prayed to God last night because I can't be in Venezuela right now and vote for a new change. I just prayed and asked him to let me hit a homer and dedicate it to Venezuela and it happened."