Miami. In the last years, an overuse of the word has become fashionable “history” and its adjective “historical”. But without a doubt, what he has been doing mexico andin the World Baseball Classic is worthy of that label.
For the first time in five World Classics, Mexico has reached the semifinal round, thanks to its victory over Puerto Rico on Friday, in which the charges of helmsman Benjamín Gil overcame a 4-0 deficit. For the first time in Mexican sports, a team has gone this far in a tournament of this magnitude at the highest level. In soccer, for example, it has never happened in the FIFA World Cups.
“It gives us a lot of pride, among those of us who have been baseball players and have been part of the growth of baseball in Mexico in one way or another,” said Gil, winner of four titles as manager of the Tomateros de Culiacán in the Pacific League. “We are enjoying what Mexican players are capable of at the highest level.”
The preparation.
With this team made up of general manager Rodrigo López, a mix of players born in Mexico and others who are from the United States and of Mexican descent—not to mention the contributions of naturalized Cuban Randy Arozarena—Mexican baseball is on everyone’s lips. .
“I think this tournament has drawn the attention of the entire world that there are Mexican (baseball players) in the United States who are raising the name of Mexico and opening doors for other youngsters,” Gil said. “But there is a ball that is played in Mexico in the summer (the LMB), which is played by very capable players.”
Gil and López have been Caribbean Series champions as players. In the Caribbean Classic, Mexican teams have been crowned nine times, but six of them were already in the 21st century.
Now, with Julio César Urías, José Urquidy, Isaac Paredes, Luis Urías, Joey Meneses, Giovanny Gallegos and Javier Assad carrying the torch among those born in Mexico and being supported by others such as Arozarena, Rowdy Téllez, Patrick Sandoval and Alex Verdugo, the The country’s team dreams of an unprecedented achievement not only in the history of Mexican baseball, but in the country’s sport in general.
“I hope that baseball in Mexico grows, that there are more children who want to play baseball, because of what these players are achieving,” said Gil, born in Tijuana and raised between that city and the US state of California.
More talent.
And speaking of California, Gil confessed here in Miami that if he had made the decision, he would have preferred this round of the Classic to take place in Los Angeles or San Diego, due to its proximity to Mexican soil and the kind of support his team received in the group stage in Phoenix, another city in a state (Arizona) that borders Mexico. But at loanDepot park, the Mexican fans made a big splash on Friday, when their team eliminated the Puerto Ricans.
“Every time the Mexican fans are joining the Mexican team a little more,” said Oliver Pérez, the Mexican who has played the most seasons in the Major Leagues, 20. “That’s good. Let them see that in Mexico there is talent in all sports. Mexico is a very great power and we hope they continue to support it.”
The task does not end now. On Monday, Mexico—with the lefty Sandoval as its starting pitcher—will meet the strong team of Japan in the semifinal.
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“If we can achieve what we have set out to do, they will remember it as a family, as brothers, for the rest of their lives,” Gil said of his troop. “They are showing what the Mexican baseball race is capable of.”
