By Elakai Anela, Beat Writer
Angel Garcia (left) and Misael Uriepero (right) pose together for a photo. The cousins grew up playing baseball together in Caracas, Venezuela, before they both moved to the United States — three years apart — to pursue their baseball journey and receive an education. Now, both play for the Sonoma Stompers. Photo Courtesy of Karsen Kadien / Sonoma Stompers
When infielder Misael Uriepero steps onto the infield grass at Arnold Field, he isn’t just sharing the field with his teammates. He’s sharing it with family.
After separate journeys to the United States, Uriepero and catcher Angel Garcia have been reunited as teammates again. Growing up, the cousins were on the same team in Caracas, Venezuela, and in the same academy.
Sonoma represents a place where both players continue to chase their dreams of playing baseball during the summer, one that neither could’ve imagined when they were younger.
“We always played together. We practiced together,” Garcia said. “Over there, we were in the same academy and had the same coaches.”
For Uriepero, his earliest baseball memory came when he was six years old.
“I hit my first home run when I was six,” Uriepero said. “I was playing for the team of my country. It was probably the earliest memory I had, but I started playing when I was three.”
A young Misael Uriepero throws the ball on a field in Caracas. Photo Courtesy of Misael Uriepero
Angel was on that team with Uriepero when he hit the home run. That first team became the foundation of a relationship built on baseball, family and faith.
Growing up in Caracas, baseball wasn’t just a pastime for Uriepero. He spent long, hard hours learning and practicing the game in hopes of getting scouts to recognize him.
“It meant everything to me. I was trying to sign pro, so I dedicated myself and my whole life to baseball,” Uriepero said.
Uriepero’s dad, Wilmen, sometimes worked from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. But the minute he got home, he would practice with his son.
“When he got to the house, he would say, 'Let's go hit,” Uriepero said. “He was never tired when it was about helping my career.”
Uriepero enrolled in the Academy when he was 12 years old. When he got there, he discovered cleats, gloves, helmets and bats — all equipment he hadn’t seen before.
The days at the Academy were long and hard. For four consecutive years, Uriepero said he would “practice from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m., go home, take a nap and practice again from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.”
Garcia’s upbringing was similar to Uriepero’s. Baseball followed him everywhere he went in the country.
“In Venezuela, all you do is baseball,” Garcia said. “That’s kind of your way out. You have to dedicate every single hour, minute and second to baseball.”
Garcia’s family decided to move when he was 13 to give him an education. He moved to Miami, Florida, where he continued to play baseball but began to focus on school.
“I wanted to have an education, have a plan B just in case,” Garcia said. “Leaving was for the best. I don’t regret it. I love my country, but at the end of the day, now I’m used to being here.”
Although Garcia left Venezuela, Uriepero stayed in his hometown. Along the way, Uriepero developed into more than a baseball player — he started running track and field and won a national championship at age 15.
Uriepero stands in the first place at the podium after winning the Venezuelan national championship in track and field at age 15. Photo Courtesy of Misael Uriepero
Yet, baseball was always his priority. But when Uriepero turned 16, scouts didn’t want to see him anymore. His family had to make the difficult choice that Garcia did three years prior: leaving Venezuela.
“When you turn 16 years old, you’re too old for scouts over there,” Uriepero said. “You have to sign by 16 or 17 unless you’re a pitcher. Our best bet for me to keep playing baseball was to play in high school and get a scholarship to go to college.”
The transition to the United States wasn’t easy. Uriepero didn’t know how to speak the language and had to be held back a grade year in high school.
“I didn’t know anything, not a single word of English,” Uriepero said. “When I got to the U.S., I was supposed to be a sophomore. I took a test and failed. I told the professor, ‘I just can’t do it. I don’t know anything.’ That’s why they put me as a freshman.”
At the same time, he was “anxious and nervous” while getting infused into the culture of the United States. Yet he had no thoughts of ever going back to Venezuela.
And because Garcia had already established himself in South Florida, he became someone to lean on during Uriepero’s transition.
“When I got here, him and his family showed a lot of support,” Uriepero said. “They were taking me everywhere at first for school ... I was like going everywhere with Angel, hanging out with his friends to make new friends.”
Garcia was enrolled at Coral Gables Senior High School but opted to transfer to True North Classic Academy in Miami. Uriepero followed his cousin to True North Classic Academy.
Both players played together every day. When they didn’t have practice, they went down to the local field to hit together.
Garcia understood the challenge Uriepero faced when moving to a new country. He had dealt with it years before.
“I had a lot more time getting used to it, the language and all that,” Garcia said. “For him coming a bit older, it was harder for him to learn the language.”
Misael stands with a trophy after a game for his high school team, True North Classic Academy in Miami, Florida. Photo Courtesy of Misael Uriepero
After high school, their careers eventually diverged.
Uriepero developed into an everyday infielder at Youngstown State University. Meanwhile, Garcia continued his career at Coppin State University, where he appeared in every game.
“At the end of the day, we’re related, but we have a different path,” Garcia said. “Even though we always stuck together and played on the same team, it worked better for him going to Youngstown, and it worked better for me to go to Coppin.”
But distance never changed their relationship
“We’re in different states, different schools, but at the end of the day, we both know we’re one phone call away,” Garcia said. “We always talk. Helping each other get better, you know, like with each other.”
Their reunion with Sonoma happened almost by accident.
Uriepero had already committed to playing in Sonoma after being recommended by Youngstown State's coaching staff. When another player became unavailable, Youngstown coaches suggested Garcia.
Soon enough, both cousins were headed to Northern California. For Uriepero, sharing a clubhouse with Garcia again carries special significance.
"When I got here, I literally played my whole life, high school career and now summer ball with him,” Uriepero said. And like when we went to college, it was the first time in the U.S. we haven’t been playing together ... it means a lot for us to play one more time together.”
The Stompers’ clubhouse has been a reminder of where their journey started together. Every day, Garcia thinks about the path they both took.
“Looking back at it, at first it was weird moving and having to do all of that,” Garcia said. “But now that I see it from a different type of perspective, I see that it was for the best.”
Ultimately playing professional baseball is still the main goal for both cousins.
For Uriepero, reaching professional would be the culmination of years of sacrifice.
"It would mean the world," Uriepero said. "For my family, I would make them the happiest person in the world."
Garcia feels the same way.
"At the end of the day, that's always the dream we've had," Uriepero said. "Playing in the pros."
And if only one cousin gets there? The answer comes easily.
"If he makes it, I will be happy for him," Garcia said. "If I make it, I know he will be happy for me."
For now, they’re on the same team, in the same clubhouse, chasing the same dream they began pursuing together in Caracas nearly two decades ago.
Misael Uriepero (middle with the orange wristband) and Angel Garcia (second to right with the Marlins hat) embrace their teammates after a game in Caracas, Venezuela. Photo Courtesy of Misael Uriepero