‘Despacito,’ except when pitching or hitting home runs
What a week it was: The Marlins’ Edinson Vólquez threw the season’s first no-no. The Angels’ Albert Pujols became the ninth player in history to 600 home runs. And Luis Fonsi’s and Daddy Yankee’s Despacito, featuring Justin Bieber, continued to reign at the top of the charts in both the United States and United Kingdom.
One of these may not be like the other, but, for some, La Vida can’t get much better right now.
We don’t need further proof about the growing Latino influence in the game — or American culture for that matter. But the coincidence and intersection of two Dominicans on the field and two Puerto Ricans and a Canadian-rican (just kidding) in the studio inspiring people through their talents just can’t be ignored.
Ask any Latino ball player and many will confess to wanting to be a musician. New York Mets shortstop José Reyes dabbles in rap and has released music videos. Frequently, it’s the other way around. Daddy Yankee, whose real name is Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez, grew up dreaming of playing for the Bronx Bombers. In fact, he says that he was preparing for a tryout with the Seattle Mariners when he got hit in the hip by a stray round from an AK-47 rifle while taking a break from a studio recording session — an incident that effectively ended one career and launched another.
In the wake of Vólquez’s no-hitter and Pujols’s milestone home run, Despacito is worth mentioning as a major-league first. Despacito is starting its third week on top of the Billboard Hot 100 list. According to The Washington Post, the only other Spanish-language song in the last 35 years — if not more — to reach number one on the U.S. charts and last, not just one week but three, was Los Lobo’s 1987 version of “La Bamba.”
But that’s where the comparison ends. Despacito means “go slowly,” but Vólquez was nothing but efficient and ruthless Saturday afternoon during his 10-strikeout, 98-pitch masterpiece at Marlins Park against the Arizona Diamondbacks. It was the first no-no by a Latino since the Marlins’ Henderson Álvarez in 2013, the seventh by a pitcher from the Dominican Republic and the 18th overall by a Latino, counting Nuyorican John Candelaria. It was also the first nine-inning no-hitter under 100 pitches since 2013 and the 13th in history.
Vólquez, a journeyman pitcher from Santo Domingo who has played for seven teams in 13 seasons and always had control issues, entered the game with a 1-7 record and 4.44 ERA. It was his day and he signed off with a flourish, striking out the side in the ninth inning.
In a day already full of drama, the achievement had extra resonance. Vólquez, 33, pitched on the same mound as the Marlins’ José Fernández and on the 26th birthday of former Kansas City teammate Yordano Ventura, two young, talented players who died in tragic accidents in the past year. Vólquez, who overcame personal pain himself when his father passed away while pitching Game 1 of the 2015 World Series for the Royals, began the day dedicating an Instagram post to Ventura, born in Samaná, a tourist destination in the north coast of the Dominican Republic.
And he ended the day dedicating the game to both Fernández and Ventura.
“They’re watching right now what happened today and I think they’re really happy right now,” Vólquez told Fox Sports.
As for Pujols, his 600th home run didn’t lack for firsts either. It was the first grand slam hit for a 500, 600 or 700 blast. Pujols was the first to reach 600 since Jim Thome in 2011, the longest stretch in between batters achieving this milepost since the 31-year gap between Hank Aaron (1971) and Barry Bonds (2002).
The Twins starter Ervin Santana, a countryman of Pujols and former teammate, became the first Latino pitcher to serve up a 600th home run. But Santana — who already had allowed Pujols one home run in his career — is not the first Latino to toss milestone pitches Pujols’s way: Mexican Armando Reynoso served up number 100 and Dominican Odalis Pérez number 200.
Instagram became the favorite social media to render homage to The Machine. A lot of big stars saluted both Vólquez and Pujols on their achievements, sometimes in the same post, like St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martínez, a fellow Dominican.
Puerto Rico’s Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez, who will be enshrined in Cooperstown in July, wrote “Congrats to my good friend #Pujols on his 600 HR! Just too good.”
Another Dominican, Seattle Mariners designated hitter Nelson Cruz said, “Congratulations, stud, it’s been an honor to watch you play and to play against you. You set an example for us Dominicans on and off the field. Thank you.”
And countryman and Mariners second baseman Robinson Canó added, “Congratulations in reaching the exclusive 600 home run club. I’m grateful to have played alongside you. You set an excellent example for baseball and for Latinos. Thank you for your achievements. May God continue blessing you.”
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig, born in Cuba, said, “Congratulations my brother for getting into the 600 club. You are a great one among all the greats. It’s a pleasure to be your friend. #best #600 #mlb #baseball #halloffame”
Cleveland Indians designated hitter Edwin Encarnación, also from the Dominican Republic, simply posted a LasMayores.com video of the 600th home run, typing, “#respect #themachinealbertpujol #600homerunclub”
And this was probably also another first, the use of social media to coach a player to a milestone home run. Pujols, 37, admitted to the Los Angeles Times that he was trying too hard after he hit number 599 on Tuesday of last week. After striking out on three pitches in his second appearance against Santana on Saturday, his wife Deidre sent him a text: “You need to stay back.”
Before his next at bat, Pujols responded to her.
“I was like, ‘I’m trying, babe,’” Pujols said afterward. “‘I’m just trying a little bit too hard.’ And then I went out there, stayed back, and I’m glad that I listen to her once in a while.”
That’s right, just like Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee would sing, stay back, “despacito.”
Featured Image: Patrick McDermott / Getty Images Sport
