Strength and solidarity in the face of Irma

By César Augusto Márquez

Welcome to El Bullpen, our new weekly social media roundup. We launch with strength and solidarity in the face of natural disaster, Roberto Clemente Day, Hispanic Heritage Month and a little light-hearted hair gossip.

Thoughts with the Caribbean

The disasters caused by Hurricane Irma revealed the humanity of Major League Baseball players, especially the Latino players, many of whom hail from the islands affected by the storm. With the eye of the hurricane barreling toward the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Cuba, three boricuas — Cubs infielder Javier Báez, Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor and Astros shortstop Carlos Correa — expressed their solidarity and offered prayers for those affected by #HuracánIrma. Dodger Yasiel Puig held a fundraiser for victims of both Harvey, which hit Houston at the end of August, and Irma; while the White Sox’s José Abreu lifted spirits and hit for the cycle Saturday after a sleepless night of worrying over his family as the storm hit his native Cuba.

Others, like Mexican-born Yankees pitcher Luis Cessa, sent thoughts to the victims of the 8.1-magnitude earthquake in southern Mexico that has so far claimed 90 lives and that rattled at least 50 million people.

Roberto Clemente Day

Solidarity was in the air. For Latino ballplayers, nationality doesn’t matter when it comes to honoring Roberto Clemente. The league celebrated Roberto Clemente Day on Wednesday and many Latino ballplayers, including two from Venezuela — the Rockies’ Carlos González and the Braves’ Ender Inciarte — and the Dominican-born Robinson Canó, the Mariners’ star second baseman, expressed their admiration for the legend. The patron saint of baseball is still very present, 45 years after his death.

Accentuate the positive

With the number of Latinos in the MLB around 30 percent, the league has taken notice with several initiatives, including making September Hispanic Heritage Month. Last year, the league began encouraging the rightful use of accents and tildes on jerseys. Players are sporting “Ponle Acento” batting practice shirts and taking even more opportunity than usual to show pride in their roots. For players like Rockies outfielder Gerardo Parra, the Latinos on his team are familia.

The Kansas City Royals posted a pic of catcher Salvador Pérez rocking his tee.

Seattle first baseman Yónder Alonso used the hashtag #CubanosEnSeattle to show off a pic of himself with Cuban teammates Guillermo Heredia, Ariel Miranda and Leonys Martín, perhaps as a farewell to the recently traded Martín.

MLB Ponle Acento case study from Alberto Calva on Vimeo.

Large and in Charge

Bartolo Colón has found better footing with the Twins since an ugly, early-season stint with the Braves. The charismatic Colón became a fast favorite of his new teammates and seems to have charmed the entire city since joining the team July 7. On Friday, the Twins will celebrate “Big Sexy Night” to honor the daunting Dominican. Colón, with 239 wins, needs only five more victories to pass Juan Marichal (243) as the winningest Dominican-born pitcher in MLB.

Go with the flow, Bryce

One of the more compelling baseball stories off the field is that of Hugo “Juice” Tandrón, the official barber of the Miami Marlins. Currently injured (and maybe slightly bored) Nationals star Bryce Harper visited Headz Up Barbershop while his team was in town last week and got himself a new look — cornrows.  Not everyone was thrilled with it, and Harper was back to his usual flowing locks after just a few days.

Featured Image: Marlins Twitter