“Papi” Ortiz shared World Series champion Cuban big leaguer

By Yasel Porto

After five years of retirement from active baseball, former Dominican star player David Ortiz was once again in the news after it was announced that the charismatic member of the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox was chosen to join the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, United States. , in the class of 2022.

“Big Papi” has received millions of comments in his favor, directed at him or published on social networks, after his access to the exclusive venue which will take place in July 2022 within the usual induction ceremony in the town itself. New Yorker.

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The colossal home run hitter from Quisqueyano has spent days celebrating with friends, acquaintances and colleagues from the baseball world. In one of those multiple moments with figures from the sport of balls and strikes, he transcended the recent meeting with one of the Cuban baseball figures worthy of note so far this century.

This is former pitcher Michael Tejera, who in 2003 was not only on the Marlins team that was crowned absolute champions that season, but was also in that World Series against the New York Yankees in which the centenary of these competitions.

But in addition to this issue that involved a left-handed pitcher who worked quite well the time he received the opportunities with the Fishes, there is currently being one of the few Cubans who work in the Minor Leagues as a pitching coach.

Tejera left the Cuban team in the 1994 Youth World Cup together with fellow Havana pitcher Hansel Izquierdo. Both reached the Major Leagues with the Florida team, although it was Michael who had the most success.

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His career in the MLB he deployed it between 1999 and 2005 and his best campaign was in 2002 when he left a balance of 8-8. In the last two seasons he wore the uniform of the Texas Rangers.

His apprehended and perfected knowledge of pitching technique and preparation, plus other essential factors, led him to be associated early on with North American professional baseball as a coach. It was in 2011 when the Washington Nationals hired him to work in the minor categories. Of course, his mastery of English also allowed him to open more doors than other pitchers on the Island who, with results in the “Big Show” have not had much of a chance beyond very territorial contexts.

In fact, when I attended my first Minor League game in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Tejera was part of the board of directors of the AA affiliate of the Nationals who had their home there. Currently, the native of the capital municipality of Playa works as the general coordinator of the pitching of all the Nats branches.

The experience with Ortiz took place in the same Dominican Republic where Michael is currently in the midst of his work commitment, and as is logical, he described it as wonderful. Not only because of the sporting importance of “Big Papi” but because of that positive character that has earned him enormous popularity.

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