Big Papi fan Natti Natasha rubs elbows with Red Sox

CHICAGO -- After finishing his pregame media availability Friday afternoon, Alex Cora walked out of the first-base dugout at Guaranteed Rate Field and approached home plate.

Before hitting the field to oversee his team’s pregame work, the Red Sox manager stopped behind the batting cage, where he struck up a conversation with Dominican singer/songwriter Natti Natasha.

Natasha is in Chicago this weekend to perform at Miche Fest, a Latino music festival in Harrison Park. But ahead of her Saturday performance, she stopped by Guaranteed Rate Field ahead of Friday’s White Sox-Red Sox game.

A few hours before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch, Natasha hung out on the field during pregame batting practice, enjoying conversations with Cora, Rafael Devers, Kiké Hernández and White Sox infielder Yoán Moncada.

That the Red Sox were on the South Side was a unique coincidence. Natasha grew up in the Dominican Republic, and David Ortiz is one of her favorite players of all time.

“I have to say Big Papi, because he’s so fun,” Natasha said through an interpreter. “Luis Polonia, because he played with the Águilas Cibaeñas. I have been a baseball fan since I was a kid.”

Natasha said Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jorge Soler are two of her favorite players today, the latter happening to play for her favorite team, the Miami Marlins. Natasha, who lives in Miami, also attended the Venezuela-Puerto Rico matchup at the World Baseball Classic in March.

“Incredible. The vibe of the WBC was all over the stadium,” Natasha said. “The energy of the people was so great. Different countries, but the fans were enjoying it. I went to the Venezuela and Puerto Rico game, but I was there representing the Dominican Republic with my jersey.”

On Friday, she wore a No. 1 White Sox home jersey, but it wasn’t her first experience throwing out a first pitch. She previously did so in the Dominican Republic, in her hometown of Santiago.

She warmed up before Friday’s toss with Southpaw, the White Sox mascot, and threw the pitch over the plate to Chicago infielder José Rodríguez.

Next month, she’ll hit the field once more. MLB announced on Friday the first wave of participants for next month’s All-Star Celebrity Softball Game in Seattle, and Natasha is playing.

“Very excited. I’m a little bit anxious,” Natasha said. “I’m like, ‘I’ve got to practice.’ But I really just want to have fun. I’m very excited.”

And if she has an option, she already has a potential walk-up song in mind.

Said Natasha: “I will say in this moment of my life with bachata, especially with 'La Falta Que Me Haces,' because that song empowers me.”