The turmoil in Venezuela is impacting the Classic Series, with head coach Lopez stating: We are not villains.

The international upheaval caused by the U.S. arrest of Venezuelan President Maduro has impacted Major League Baseball and the World Baseball Classic (WBC). Today, the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (LVBP) declared that games will recommence on January 7 local time. Omar Lopez, the head coach of Venezuela’s Classic Series team, stated: “The only thing I want to say is, we are not villains.”

Last week, the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League announced a suspension of games, and today on its official website it declared: “The round-robin games will resume on Wednesday, January 7. Meanwhile, the LVBP and participating teams will announce schedule adjustments as needed to ensure the smooth progress of the tournament.”

Currently, several players including Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio, infielder Andruw Monasterio, catcher Jeferson Quero, relief pitcher Angel Zerpa, and William Contreras are in Venezuela. The Brewers continue to closely monitor the situation.

In this Classic Series, the Venezuelan roster features Salvador Perez, catcher for the Kansas City Royals and a three-time participant, as the team’s cornerstone. Star players such as Houston Astros infielder José Altuve and Atlanta Braves standout Ronald Acuña Jr. will also lead the squad.

Omar Lopez, who is both the current Venezuelan national team head coach and a Houston Astros bench coach, was asked if Venezuelan fans would feel safe and willing to travel to Miami for the games. He replied: “The only thing I want to say is, we are not villains. We are kind, honorable, and humble people. Please let us enjoy happiness, that’s all.”

Johan Santana, two-time Cy Young Award winner and pitching coach for the Venezuelan national team, remarked: “This is a concern for everyone, not just coaches or players, but about real life. I hope the situation stabilizes in the coming weeks so fans can feel more secure coming to watch… We look forward to everyone cheering for us.”

Lopez noted that the vast majority of Venezuelan players and their families live in the U.S. and hold visas tied to their Major League contracts. However, two free agents currently have visas expiring at the end of the year. Lopez said the team plans to wait one more week to see if those players sign; if not, the national team will assist with visa matters and may seek support from MLB.