NEW YORK -- It remains to be seen what kind of welcome Robinson Cano gets in the Bronx next month when he returns to Yankee Stadium for his first Subway Series as a member of the crosstown-rival Mets. But on Wednesday, the veteran second baseman was greeted with open arms in the borough where he spent the first nine seasons of his Major League career.

Cano and Mets quality control coach Luis Rojas, both natives of the Dominican Republic, stopped by the Bronx to meet with a group of young men from the English Language Learners and International Support (ELLIS) Preparatory Academy, a high school for new immigrants ages 16 and older.

Cano and Rojas addressed a young men’s group that calls itself the “The Bad Boys Club.” Contrary to what that moniker might suggest, the initiative is designed to groom its members into leaders, both in their school and their communities. The group’s weekly meetings are facilitated by the NYC Mission Society, a local nonprofit.  

Cano, 36, made it a point to establish common ground with the 10 or so students who participated, noting that he spent three years in the school system in Newark, N.J. The eight-time All-Star also discussed the challenges he faced as a Minor Leaguer who didn’t speak much English, which he says has motivated him to mentor younger players throughout his career.

Cano’s message was ultimately one of hope: He spoke of the satisfaction of becoming successful enough to provide for his family -- “We [Dominicans] all say the same thing; [that] we’re going to get a house for our mom,” he joked -- and of the importance of setting and working toward goals.

Speaking from the point of view of a coach, Rojas emphasized that while a good leader sets an example, “At the same time, you’ve got to have a balance; you have to trust your personnel, you have to trust your guys, that they can do it for themselves.”

Wednesday’s event was part of the Mets’ Latino Leaders Program, which “aims to utilize the appeal of the Mets and their Latino players to motivate, cultivate and empower Latino students to become exemplary leaders in their schools and their communities.” The ELLIS students that Cano and Rojas met with Wednesday will attend Thursday’s matinee game against the Reds at Citi Field as guests of the Mets.

In addition to organizing events that bring together players and students for volunteering and mentoring activities through the Latino Leaders Program, the Mets have also awarded scholarships to local high school students to take college level courses through the St. John's University College Advantage Program.

In explaining why he enjoys getting involved with initiatives like the Latino Leaders Program, Cano reflected on what such an opportunity would have meant to his younger self. 

“I never got a chance to see any celebrity or anybody come to [my] school,” he said. “Knowing how it feels whenever you see a celebrity or a guy that is successful in life and [he] comes and talks to you, that’s something I would have appreciated back then.”