MLB Star Wants UFC ‘Crossover’ Fight, Mentions Jon Jones
An MLB star said he would love to fight for the UFC and possibly face Jon Jones.
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MLB Cancels Mets Vs Marlins Series In Puerto Rico
A pandemic-related inevitability became official Thursday.
Continue ReadingCubs shortstop Javier Báez graces cover of MLB’s video game The Show
Javier Báez joins an elite group of Chicago sports athletes that have graced the cover of flagship sports video games. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane of the Blackhawks appeared on the cover of EA Sports NHL series. Hall of famers Michael Jordan and Brian Urlacher were on the cover for the NBA and NFL games. Báez is also the first Cubs player since Anthony Rizzo to be the cover athlete for a baseball video game. Rizzo was the cover athlete for “RBI Baseball” in 2015.
Continue ReadingMets’ new manager Carlos Beltran makes NYC history as first Latino head coach
Carlos Beltran understands what it means to come first.
Not only has he been named the Mets’ first Latino manager in team history, he also claimed the title of first Latino head coach of a major sports team in any of the Big Apple’s sports teams.
Continue ReadingWith father’s guidance, Lindor among all-time great Puerto Ricans
With his 30th home run of the 2019 season Francisco Lindor joined an exclusive fraternity in major league history.
Continue ReadingTwins pitcher Jose Berrios gets the better of brother-in-law Javy Baez in All-Star Game
As Ketel Marte stood on second base after his leadoff double in the third inning of Tuesday’s All-Star Game, Jose Berrios turned around on the pitcher’s mound and said something unusual to him: Thank you.
“He said thank you for getting a double, so he could face Javy Baez,” said shortstop Jorge Polanco, who was standing next to Marte. “He was happy to get to face him.”
That’s because Berrios and Baez are lifelong friends who grew up in the same small town — Bayamon, Puerto Rico — and wound up marrying sisters. So after Berrios struck out Ronald Acuna on an unhittable curveball, and caught Christian Yelich looking with a changeup, the brothers-in-law faced each other on a baseball diamond for the second time as professionals. For the second time as All-Stars.
Continue ReadingLa Vida Voices: Manny Colón of the Miami Marlins
Manny Colón’s job is literally about dealing with the baseball life as Director of Team Travel for the Miami Marlins. His daily work responsibilities include handling the logistics of travel, accommodations, and equipment transfer. The fewer complaints heard from Marlins players, coaching staff, or front office personnel, the better Colón is doing his job.
Colón has lived his own baseball dream of reaching the big leagues. He was born in Fort Ord, California, and raised in Tennessee to Puerto Rican parents who shared their love of baseball and all things Roberto Clemente. The realization as a high schooler that he likely wasn’t going to make it on the field as a major leaguer led him to have front office aspirations.
Continue ReadingWoman, Diamilette Quiles, to make baseball history in Puerto Rico 🇵🇷
An island known for producing Major League stars such as Javier Baez, Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor and Yadier Molina will play host to history on Sunday, when Diamilette Quiles becomes the first woman to play in the Superior Double A League — the top league in the Puerto Rico Baseball Federation, which is the governing body of leagues and teams from across the island.
Continue ReadingFor Many Latino Players, Roberto Clemente’s Number Is Off Limits, Too
Eddie Rosario, the Minnesota Twins left fielder, can’t remember the exact year, but he was a youth baseball player in his native Puerto Rico when he was given the choice of two jerseys: No. 21 or another number.
“I’m not Roberto Clemente,” said Rosario, 27, who now wears one of the next-closest options, No. 20. “I can’t wear that.”
No. 21 is sacred in baseball, particularly to Puerto Ricans, because it was the longtime number of Clemente, the iconic player who hailed from the island. Even as a youngster in Guayama, Rosario knew of Clemente’s importance, which led him to join the majority of Puerto Rican major leaguers in doing something that Major League Baseball hasn’t: decline the use of No. 21 in an effort to essentially retire it.
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