Pitcher Marcus Stroman honored at Puerto Rico’s Day at the Ballpark event at Yankee Stadium
The Puerto Rico's Day at the Ballpark event series kicks off its 2024 season on April 25, 2024 when New York Yankees starting pitcher Marcus Stroman will be honored before the game against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. The Puerto Rico Convention District Authority (PRCDA) has officially signed on as the presenting sponsor for this year’s lead-off event, which will be followed with on-field ceremonies in Tampa on August 16 and Minnesota on September 15. Puerto Rico's Day at the Ballpark pays tribute to the island's rich 125-year baseball history dating back to 1898, and also
Manny Mota, 85, honored as a ‘Legend of Dodger Baseball’
The Los Angeles Dodgers paid tribute to the life and career one of their most popular players on April 29, honoring Manny Mota with an induction into the team’s Legends of Dodger Baseball during a special night at the ballpark that came complete with a Mota bobblehead giveaway for fans. Mota was more than just one of L.A.’s best players during the dozen seasons he spent with the team from 1969-1980 (plus a one-game appearance in 1982 at age 44, two years after he officially retired). The Santo Domingo native has also been a coach, Spanish-language broadcaster and goodwill ambassador
Festivities for 2024 Serie del Caribe tournament starting early in Miami
Baseball fans can get a head start on the hoopla surrounding the 2024 Serie del Caribe. On Saturday, April 29, loanDepot park in Miami — home of the Marlins — hosts the Serie del Caribe Celebration marking the first gathering of the six participating teams in next year’s popular tournament: Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and the two new invited teams, Curaçao and Nicaragua. The festivities include an introductory press conference and an exhibition game, with Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero and shortstop icon Omar Vizquel tossing the ceremonial first pitches. “International baseball brings an unmatched energy and passion that
Manny Ramirez inducted into Cleveland Hall of Fame
Long before Manny Ramirez earned a reputation as one of baseball most fearsome sluggers for the Boston Red Sox, the Santo Domingo native was the biggest star on the then-Cleveland Indians’ powerhouse teams of the late 1990s. The now-Guardians certainly haven’t forgotten what Ramirez meant to that era in team history highlighted by AL pennants in 1995 and 1997: The outfielder/DH will be inducted into the Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame in a ceremony on August 19 to honor his highly productive eight years with the team. Joining Ramirez will be late outfielder Dale Mitchell, a lifetime .312 hitter who
5 MLB players to watch in 2023
Ah spring, when a young player’s fancy turns to proving himself on the field all over again. As the 2023 season gears up for opening day on March 30, here are five players facing pivotal moments in their careers. Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres The flashy San Diego shortstop was well on his way to superstardom two seasons ago with a winning combination of generational talent — a National League-leading 42 homers in 2021 at just 22 years old — and loads of flair. Then came a PED-related suspension that not only wiped out Tatis’ 2022 season, it ruined his image.
Top 5 moments of a classic World Baseball Classic
A classic World Baseball Classic climaxed with a classic baseball moment. In the ninth inning of the final game with the 2023 WBC championship on the line, two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani was on the mound trying to seal a 3-2 win for his native Japan against the Major Leagues’ best hitter in Mike Trout. The fact that they’ve been Los Angeles Angels teammates for the past five seasons wasn’t lost on the millions of fans tuned to the game. Trout struck out on a nasty 3-2 slider after a steady diet of 100 mph fastballs, handing Japan the WBC title
World Baseball Classic returns March 8 with 20 teams carrying their nations’ hopes
The World Baseball Classic has finally returned to the international stage after a six-year hiatus rather than the usual four— and the current tournament is the biggest and most inclusive yet. There are now 20 teams from all over the world vying for national bragging rights, up from 16 in 2017 when USA beat Puerto Rico for the title, with many of them boasting several established Major League players. Nearly 70 All-Stars are suiting up to represent their native countries, among them eight former MVPs including Miguel Cabrera (Dominican Republic) and Jose Altuve (Venezuela). The tournament, which starts on Wednesday
AL homer champ Jorge Soler sets record for Cuban-born player
By Robert Dominguez Jorge Soler's 48th and final home run in the Royal’s last game of the 2019 season on Sept. 29 was cause for a double celebration. The first-inning, nearly 400-foot blast against the Minnesota Twins not only sealed his title as American League home run champion (the injured Mike Trout was second with 45), it also gave Soler the single-season record for most homers by a Cuban-born player. The 27-year-old rightfielder/DH passed Rafael Palmiero, who hit 47 homers in both 1999 and 2001 for the Texas Rangers. Make that a triple celebration: Soler’s home run was also the