Dominican Republic “we are here”, with that rallying cry, baseball players and coaches from the Dominican team showed their pride in participating and carrying out a decent performance in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
Through audiovisual materials presented from the cities of Florida and Arizona where they are in the training camps, a group of actors, both players and instructors, made known their opinions related to the important event that for Dominicans begins the next March 11, when they debut against Venezuela.
The first to make known his feelings for wearing the national colors was Rodney Linares, leader of the Quisqueyan team, who expressed that representing the Dominican Republic was always one of his great dreams.
Although he understands that a great commitment awaits him to keep all the players happy, the strategist expressed that he will enjoy commanding this large group of star players that the country will have to the fullest.
Others like Jeremy Peña and Teóscar Hernández, both members of the great offensive that the squad will have, expressed great positivity that the Dominican Republic has a great squad and they hope to contribute big so that the club can go out through the big door in the Clásico, as happened in the 2013 when they took everything.
“I feel honored that they have taken me into account and I hope not to disappoint them, because I will give everything of myself to bring victory to our country,” said Peña, the Most Valuable Player of the Championship Series and the World Cup for the Astros of Houston.
While Hernández showed his pride in representing the country again. “We will prepare ourselves to achieve success, it will be an event that we are going to enjoy,” said the current member of the Mariners.
Also among the offensive players, Ketel Marte and Francisco Mejía, highlighted the conformation of the team and what is expected now is to move forward, from which they will seek to lift the champion trophy.
Some pitchers such as Jarlin García, Héctor Neris, Roansy Contreras, and José Leclerc were also among those who appreciated the invitation to be part of the Quisqueyan team in the Clásico.
Also the coaches, Welington Cepeda, Frank Valdez, Manny García, Ramón Santiago, Tony Díaz were among those who expressed their positive vibes for being part of the Dominican squad and from their positions they will seek to contribute their grain of sand for success.
warrior ensign
While Pavel Aguiló, Director of Marketing after the presentation of the uniforms to the rhythm of merengue, said that the characteristic of the uniform seeks to show the blue and red colors perpendicularly, which breaks with the traditional insignia.
It was inspired by what Dominicanness represents. “We wanted to place the color red as the main color because we are going to defend our homeland and when the flag is placed upside down it represents war and we want to convey that we will be in a war,” Aguiló said.
The uniforms have already come out in Major League Baseball and starting next week they will be in the main sports outlets.
Cruz speaks of duality
Nelson Cruz admitted that it is a bit difficult to maintain the duality of player and manager. “This has not been easy to practice both, I have looked for a way to stay in shape as a professional player and at the same time give the same love and commitment to what the group is made up of,” he said.
“For me it has been a satisfaction to be able to see the final work achieved and if I had to do it again, I would do it,” he added.
The show
The activity was quite a spectacle, in which Josel Hernández was presented to the rhythm of merengue and others, who will be the animator for the team.
His presence at the event caused a stir and the artist placed the striking note with a presentation that pleased the attendees.
He even called on the other teams that will be in the first round with the Dominicans to get ready, because they will take a team that will give “lots of water to drink.”
In the activity, the song Un solo latido was presented, which will be official of the Dominican team and is a campaign of Banco BHD. The entity was represented by José Sanoja Rizek, VP of Marketing and Advertising.
Juan Núñez, president of the Baseball Federation, who was in charge of the opening remarks, spoke at the activity, as well as Vitelio Mejía, president of Lidom, Garibaldy Bautista, president of the Dominican Olympic Committee, Luis Mejía Oviedo, president of Panam Sports, as well as Sanoja Rizek.
