MEXICO CITY -- As “La Macarena” by Los Del Río played over the speakers, members of the John Langdon Down Foundation danced and high-fived their way onto the youth diamond at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú on Saturday morning, kicking off MLB’s inclusive Play Ball event during the Mexico City Series.
The foundation, named after British physician John Langdon Down, a pioneer in the care of people with intellectual disabilities, was founded on April 3, 1972, by Sylvia García-Escamilla. For 54 years, it has provided education, medical care and psychological support to people with Down syndrome from low-income families across Mexico.
The organization serves about 1,500 individuals and is dedicated to promoting the human rights, dignity and potential of people with Down syndrome by improving their quality of life.
“We receive them from birth up to adulthood, and we work with them in the five areas of development,” executive director Pilar Mostalac said in Spanish. “After they complete special primary education around age 17 or 18, they can transition into workshops like the Mexican School of Down Art.”
One of the foundation’s most notable initiatives is its cafeteria program, which Mostalac said is the first social and labor inclusion center of its kind in Mexico, and among the first in the world.
On the field, the focus shifted to a hands-on baseball clinic. Children and young adults ages 18 and under participated in adapted activities on a scaled-down diamond featuring oversized bats, gloves and baseballs. They played T-ball with plastic balls and rotated through drills alongside MLB representatives participating in the World Tour: Mexico City Series.
Players in attendance included Diamondbacks right-hander Juan Morillo and infielder Jose Fernandez, as well as former Padres players Mark Loretta and Jake Peavy. Mascots the Swinging Friar and D. Baxter the Bobcat also joined the festivities.
Morillo said the experience was grounding and meaningful.
“First of all thanks to God for the opportunity and I feel that personally, I like [being part of these events], it helps me keep my feet on the ground,” Morillo said in Spanish. “To spend time with special needs children fills me with pride of passion, [they inspire] me to keep doing what I am doing and to achieve everything I want in my career.”
Mostalac emphasized that sport is a fundamental part of development, especially for children with Down syndrome, who often have both intellectual disability and muscle hypotonia.
“The sports aspect is very important physically, but also emotionally, and also in terms of sociability and inclusion, so it seems to us a wonderful partnership with MLB,” Mostalac said.
She said the event was a complete success and expressed gratitude for the opportunity.
“We feel very proud and honored to have been chosen by MLB. We are deeply grateful for this partnership,” Mostalac said.