Mariners set to honor Latin American ballplayers

SEATTLE -- The Mariners annual tribute to the contributions Latin Americans have made to the game of baseball will take place Saturday when they face the Rays in a 6:10 p.m. PT game at Safeco Field.

The Mariners will wear home white jerseys with the name "Marineros" across the front. The game-worn jerseys will be available at the Mariners.com auction page after the game.

Former Mariners catcher Dave Valle will throw out the game's ceremonial first pitch. Valle is the founder of Esperanza International, a non-profit organization that works in Latin America to lift children and families out of poverty.

The evening's festivities also include performances by Banda Vagos, playing brass-based traditional Mexican music, and the singing of the National Anthem by Tess Altiveros, a soprano from Seattle who has performed extensively with Puget Sound opera companies and symphonies.

Starting lineups and batters for the game will be announced in English by Safeco Field public address announcer Tom Hutyler, and in Spanish by Carlos Moreno, an executive and announcer for Adelante Media Group, which operates Spanish language radio stations in Seattle.