The Reds proudly celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with their annual Fiesta Rojos celebration on Friday.
The day kicked off with over 100 students from the Academy of Multilingual Immersion Studies (AMIS), Roberts Academy, and the Academy of World Languages visiting the P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy.
The morning started with local Latin radio station La Mega pumping some music into the facility, which allowed the youngsters to run off some energy before hearing from four special guests: Reds players Juan Brito, Carlos Jorge, Luis Mey and Héctor Rodríguez.
Once the players arrived, Reds assistant athletic trainer Tomás Vera emceed a Q&A session. While some baseball topics were discussed, many of the questions revolved around the players’ general interests: favorite food, color, drink. The room got mildly contentious during the Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo debate but quickly unified once Jorge revealed his favorite song to be Bad Bunny’s “Tití Me Preguntó.”
A question from one child named Percy caught the group off guard, but in the best way. She assumed the role of journalist and simply asked, “What does it mean for you all to be here with us today?”
Jorge, a rising Reds prospect who joined the Major League roster in early September, was quick to respond.
“I know this is a special day for you, but it is a special day for us, too,” Jorge said. “We are not going to forget you guys. I want to say thank you to you for being here and being as happy as you are and bringing your great smiles with you.”
After the Q&A wrapped up, Mey also reflected on what this day meant for him.
“It's very special. We were kids at some point, too,” Mey said. “We had this ambition, we had a dream to be where we are right now. And we saw people like us too, guys like Pedro Martinez, Big Papi [David Ortiz], A-Rod [Alex Rodriguez]. And some people had the opportunity to meet them, but most didn't. So I just want to be here in this moment for them, not as a superstar, but as a regular person, too, who wants to spend time with them.
“They see us as regular people. That’s my favorite part. They don’t think baseball is everything. They have an interest in us as people, not just what we do for a living.”
After the Q&A and a group photo, the students broke off into stations for some hitting, pitching, fielding and throwing clinics with assistance from the ballplayers.
Mey took a little bit off his usual high-90s velocity when throwing some pitches to the students. Jorge, Brito and Rodríguez helped on the hitting side and fielded some balls in the outfield.
And while Jorge said he would not forget his new fans, it’s hard to believe any of the kids will forget him either. The outfielder jumped into the morning’s festivities with both feet, literally. In addition to helping with the hitting clinic, he flashed his footwork at the salsa lesson station and helped encourage the children to do something outside their comfort zone.
“It’s a great opportunity for me in this time of my life to be able to come here and share my experiences with the kids,” he said. “It’s important to make this day special and make a difference in the community.”
The Academy’s Fiesta Rojos concluded with lunch, courtesy of Hot Head Burritos. But the Hispanic Heritage festivities continued into the evening with the Reds’ annual Fiesta Rojos Night at Great American Ball Bark, presented by Toyota.
Activities included a DJ from La Mega outside the ballpark on Crosley Terrace, live music in the Fan Zone, and several pregame and in-game ceremonies featuring members of Cincinnati’s Hispanic community.
One of those pregame ceremonies consisted of current Reds players and coaches of Hispanic descent receiving certificates of recognition from the Commission on Hispanic & Latino Affairs for the State of Ohio. In addition, students from AMIS participated in the team’s traditional “Parade of Colors” presentation of the flags, which represented the 22 countries in Europe, the Caribbean, and North, Central, and South America that are celebrated each year during Hispanic Heritage Month.
The efforts by the Reds organization to recognize and honor their players’ heritage and cultures do not go unnoticed in the clubhouse.
“I'm proud to be Dominican. I will be Dominican 24/7 and extra hours on Sundays,” Mey said. “So I'm just happy. Seeing how the team takes care of us and how they care about this date, it makes us a little bit more happy than we normally are because we know they have us in mind.”
Another pregame ceremony included the presentation of a Community Advocate Award to H.A. Musser Jr. As president and CEO of Santa Maria Community Services, Musser has dedicated more than 40 years to strengthening families and neighborhoods throughout Greater Cincinnati. Under his leadership, Santa Maria has expanded bilingual services, education, family support, and health and wellness resources to better serve Hispanic and Latino families across the region.
And earlier this week, the Reds celebrated MLB’s annual Roberto Clemente Day on Tuesday. Prior to the game, Reds catcher Jose Trevino was recognized on the field as the team’s nominee for Major League Baseball’s annual Roberto Clemente Award, presented by Capital One. The Clemente Award is given annually to a player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.