Torrealba’s son shadows him around the ballpark nearly 2 weeks after being abducted

Torrealba’s son accompanies him to ballpark

DENVER — Colorado Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba brought his 11-year-old son to the ballpark Tuesday night, nearly two weeks after the boy was kidnapped in Venezuela while on his way to school.

Yorvit Eduardo followed his father all over the diamond before the game, stopping to greet Rockies players eager to shake his hand. He also threw the ball around and then sat in the dugout as his dad trotted into the outfield during batting practice.

It’s been a harrowing ordeal for the family since Torrealba’s son and brother-in-law were snatched by kidnappers earlier this month.

They were abducted while driving to the boy’s school and the kidnappers demanded nearly $500,000 in ransom, but none was paid.

Torrealba left the team in Houston on June 2 to join his wife in Venezuela, listening as she negotiated with the kidnappers. He was told it was best if he did not do the talking.

A day later, they were left along a highway outside Caracas.

After spending time with his family in Miami, Torrealba returned to the team Sunday.

The Rockies aren’t in any rush to get Torrealba back behind the plate, urging him to take his time.

“He’s been through living hell, as you well know,” manager Jim Tracy said. “When I saw him on Sunday, he looked exhausted. He looked like he’d been put through the wringer, that’s how tired he looked. What you worry about is jumping in too quick and then run the risk of injury to the player because he’s so fatigued.”

Torrealba remains on the restricted list. Once he feels comfortable, the Rockies will send him on a minor league assignment to get his timing back.

“We want to make sure he’s ready to go about it the way he was going about it before he had to leave and get his family,” Tracy said. “We’ll take it day to day.”

Torrealba is hitting .230 this season with two homers and seven RBIs.