WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – In the middle of the outfield at Volunteer Stadium at the Little League complex stood Mariners reliever Andrés Muñoz with his arm around Team Mexico’s starting pitcher, Gregorio Madrid.
This was a moment 12-year-old’s across the globe can only dream of. This was a player Madrid idolizes from the same country as he is, standing right in front of him. He wasn’t going to miss this opportunity. So, Madrid asked Muñoz for advice before his big start against Team Panama.
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“He said just throw it down the middle as hard as you can,” Madrid said. “Like, we’re not perfect, but we do the best we can.”
Madrid stood there, looking at Muñoz in awe while soaking in every word he was hearing.
This is why the Mariners were so excited to participate in Sunday’s Little League Classic. And this is especially why Randy Arozarena and Muñoz jumped at the chance to have a special, intimate meeting with Team Mexico just an hour before the Little Leaguers took the field.
“It’s really exciting for me to be here, be with them and talk with them a little bit,” Muñoz said. “That’s key for me. Just know them a little bit more.”
The Little Leaguers knew what was coming. They gathered in the outfield waiting for two of their favorite players to come out of the dugout. When Arozarena’s feet touched the grass, the fans and families in the crowd erupted. The players made a mad dash toward the Seattle outfielder, excited to make a new friend.
In typical Arozarena fashion, he stole the show.
"It’s very special, the love that they give me," Arozarena said through team interpreter Freddy Llanos. "It just kind of gives me a message that I am doing things right. ... Hopefully in a few years, they can say they at least looked up to me and that’s one of the things I really enjoy being – being the kind of guy that they can look up to by the way I play on the field, having fun and enjoying myself."
After hugging each player on the roster, Arozarena lined his young friends up for a group photo and instructed them to do his signature pose, crossing their arms across their chests. After they giggled through the camera flashes, the kids couldn’t have been more excited to show off their celebratory MVP cowboy hat. Of course, Arozarena put it on.
“It’s something they have when they score runs, put it on,” Arozarena said. “That’s what you want to do when you go out and play this game is have fun. It’s similar to us. We have the trident when we hit home runs. They have their little thing. It’s fun. It also represents a little culture where they’re coming from.”
Before Arozarena and Muñoz each signed the hat, Arozarena kept it on to give the team a quick pregame pep talk.
“He told us to always be disciplined, that we always have to keep training and go for our dreams,” Madrid said.
Madrid retreated underneath the stadium to begin his throwing routine to get ready for his start. Just to his left stood Muñoz, who was doing his best not to make his young friend nervous. But after each pitch, Madrid peaked over to see if the big leaguer was impressed. Not many kids get to show off in front of their idols.
The two big leaguers stuck around to be on the field for Team Mexico’s lineup announcement, but then they had to make their way to their bus. Muñoz watched the first inning on TV, anxiously waiting to see if his advice would pay off.
Madrid struck out the side.
“Hopefully I gave him some confidence,” Muñoz said. “It was really good to see that first inning.”
Muñoz didn’t learn until later that Mexico won, 2-1, advancing to the next round and he couldn’t wipe the smile off his face.
“I’m really proud of them and what they’re doing,” Muñoz said, “and the way they’re representing Mexico.”