‘I’m a big-leaguer now’
No one knew what to expect from this week’s major-league debut of Antonio Senzatela, a 22-year-old right-hander from Valencia, Venezuela.
Last year, he was pitching at the Double-A level for the Hartford Yard Goats. On Thursday, after getting out of a bases-loaded jam, the Rockies rookie pitched five scoreless innings and struck out six in a Colorado win against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.
And what did he do afterward?
He called his wife, Vanessa García.
“I said, ‘Yeah, I’m a big-leaguer now,’” Senzatela confessed with a wide smile to The Denver Post.
It was a small moment this week that illustrated a larger cultural shift that’s transforming what we call the Americas’ Game.
Major League Baseball’s annual look at Opening Day rosters showed that the number of foreign-born players increased to an all-time high of 259, or 29.8 percent, representing a record 19 countries or territories.
The Dominican Republic led the way with 93 players. Venezuela set a country record with 77. Cuba matched its highest total with 23 while Puerto Rico, bolstered by an infusion of young stars that includes Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa and Javy Báez, checked in with 16.
Colombia, who impressed folks at the World Baseball Classic with its fundamentals and resilience, has only two players in the majors this season. But both took the mound for their teams on Day One.
In just his seventh major-league season, righty Julio Teherán matched two Hall of Famers, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz, with his fourth Opening Day start for the Atlanta Braves. He looked nifty in a no-decision against the Mets, striking out six in six scoreless innings.
White Sox lefty José Quintana, a six-year veteran, had less luck at home against the Detroit Tigers, giving up six runs in five innings. But don’t forget that this is the same guy who took a no-hitter into the sixth inning against Team USA in the WBC.
Here’s what else happened in the world of La Vida Baseball during MLB’s first week.
A PITCH FOR DOMINICAN DOMINANCE
Why do we think it might be the year of the Dominican pitcher? Look no further than Carlos Martínez.
Martínez, a bright spot among many in the WBC, is at 25 the youngest Opening Day starter for the St. Louis Cardinals since 1989.
A slight and fluid hard-throwing right-hander, there’s a reason they call Martínez “Baby Pedro.” Mixing in an almost equal number of four-seam fastballs, sinkers, changeups and sliders with a handful of curves, he baffled the world champion Chicago Cubs, striking out 10 in seven innings while scattering six hits and issuing nary a walk in a no-decision.
But check it out — Martínez is not the only Dominican pitcher to strike out 10 on Opening Day. Pedro Martínez himself did it three times on his way to the Hall of Fame. Francisco Liriano opened twice with 10. Johnny Cueto, Mario Soto and the first Dominican Hall of Famer, Juan Marichal, once each.
That’s heady company. Don’t even think about messing around with a pitcher whose Twitter handle is @Tsunamy27.
HERE’S JOHNNY!
Speaking of Cueto, he won his start for San Francisco. That makes it 19 wins against only five losses since signing a six-year, $130 million free-agent contract with the Giants prior to last season.
Cueto throws from multiple angles, channeling his inner El Tiante most nights. This time against the Arizona Diamondbacks, however, he stole the show with his bat and legs.
He faked a bunt before pulling back and slashing a single. The next time up, he got on base via an error. On an ensuing double, he ran so fast from first to home — dreads flailing — he almost caught the runner in front of him.
“I took off running on my own, very hard,” Cueto told MLB.com. “Then when I got back to the dugout, [Eduardo] Núñez told me to slow down. ‘It’s just the second game of the season.’ It was just my instinct that took over.”
CITI FULL OF LOVE
At age 43, Bartolo Colón’s instinct is not to run hard, preferring instead to trot to first base while holding the bat. Nonetheless, the ageless wonder shined in his debut with the Atlanta Braves. Pitching at Citi Field in front of his former club, the New York Mets, Colón struck out six in six innings while allowing two hits, one run and a walk.
The fans rewarded #BigSexy with boisterous standing ovations and he waved back at them. SNY, the Mets’ network, registered 470,329 viewers, the largest audience of any telecast since the final game at Shea Stadium in 2008.
“To be honest, I didn’t really expect it today,” Colón said afterward through an interpreter. “I just want to express my gratitude to the Mets fans. I can’t thank them enough for their support, even now.”
UNO MÁS
Uno más, one more. That’s a call for a nightcap. Or what Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor most certainly said to himself after committing an error that allowed the Texas Rangers to take the lead in the third game of their opening series. Lindor came back to hit a solo home run to cut the deficit to one, and then propelled the Indians to a sweep with a grand slam in the ninth. As Lindor celebrated with justified glee as he rounded the bases, we couldn’t help thinking how Ian Kinsler would have preferred to spend the moment. Emotion and joy are part of the game.
Finally, teams are openly swinging to the Latin beat, even down to the concessions. The Diamondbacks expanded the schedule of La Terraza, their corner in the upper right field concourse at Chase Field, keeping it open for all weekend home games. The featured drink will be micheladas, a beer cocktail with lime juice, salt, spice and tomato juice. Throw in some #PlatanoPower, arepas, tacos al pastor, and we’ll be living La Vida Baseball.
Featured Image: Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport