The worlds of sports and music often intertwine in surprising and creative ways. Athletes, with their fame and talent, often venture into the world of music, leveraging their popularity to explore other facets. A fascinating example of this fusion is the presence of Latin baseball players in Major League Baseball who have ventured into the music world and have also showcased their versatility and talent there.
MUSIC AS A SHARED PASSION
For some Latin baseball players, music has been a passion that has been present throughout their lives, even before their professional baseball career. A notable example is Dominican player José Reyes, who shone as a shortstop in Major League Baseball for over a decade. Reyes has also ventured into the music world, releasing several singles and collaborating with renowned Latin artists. His musical style combines tropical rhythms with catchy lyrics.
SANTIAGO ESPINAL AND VLAD GUERRERO JR., A DUO OF BLUE JAYS WITH ELADIO CARRIÓN AND 50 CENT
Two of the most well-known Latin baseball players from the Toronto Blue Jays teamed up with rappers Eladio Carrión and 50 Cent in a musical collaboration. In April of this year, during a trip to New York, Santiago Espinal and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. filmed scenes for the music video of the song “Si salimos” by Carrion and 50 Cent.
This video has already surpassed five million views on YouTube. Espinal recalls how the collaboration came about: “It was through my agency. They told me they were making a music video and they would like me to be part of it. I didn’t have to be asked twice.” His appearance was short but exciting for the 28-year-old player. “I never thought in my life that I would make a music video until that day happened,” he asserted.
Espinal met rapper Carrion in Puerto Rico during the holidays, and they stayed in touch. “Before filming the video, I let him know that I was very nervous and that we would probably have to do a thousand takes, but I would do it even though I was nervous.” In reality, Espinal only had to do five takes.
YOHAN MONCADA, A CUBAN REGGAETON ARTIST
One of the top Cuban baseball players in Major League Baseball has also made incursions into music. Yohan Moncada plays for the Chicago White Sox. In November 2020, the player from Cienfuegos released the song “Desastre personal,” written in collaboration with reggaeton artist Lenier Mesa and featuring another well-known exponent of the urban genre, El Chacal.
In each of his plate appearances during the 2021 season, Moncada used this song as his walk-up theme.
Related article: The Blue Jays´ Spanish Logo
PAPI ORTIZ’S VOICE IN “POR DINERO”
Hall of Fame member David “Big Papi” Ortiz also dabbled in the world of reggaeton. The voice of the Dominican player appears in the song “Por dinero” by Cynthia Roque.
PLAYING THE TIMBALES, A PASSION OF OMAR VIZQUEL
Venezuelan player Omar Vizquel had a formidable career in the Majors, and many believe he deserves to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Vizquel is a lover of playing the timbales.
“Yes, yes, I really like playing the timbales (…). From time to time, I play it here and there, I’ve caught the rhythm. Oh, I also know that Carlos Baerga plays it too. Oh, but I also know that Carlos Beltrán likes it. That’s the reflection of that great musical influence in us Caribbeans,” he said in an interview.
BERNIE WILLIAMS, A YANKEE WITH FOUR RINGS AND A GUITAR
Puerto Rican player Bernie Williams was part of the New York Yankees team that dominated Major League Baseball in the late 1990s. Bernie won four rings, received four Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger Award; he was also the American League batting champion in 1998. Even during his active playing career, Williams combined his life on the field with another one of his passions: music.
“I am a professional baseball player, but I believe I am a musician by vocation. I’m a person who doesn’t like to talk much, I’m not always in the spotlight. I don’t like a lot of attention, and I find it very easy to express myself through the guitar,” he admitted.
In 2003, Bernie released his first album, “The Journey Within.” In this album, he proposed a fusion of salsa, rock, and jazz. The critics praised the work of the Puerto Rican player, and the album reached the third position on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart. Latin music stars such as Gilberto Santa Rosa and Rubén Blades also appeared on this production.
Bernie’s second album was even more acclaimed. In “Moving Forward,” recorded in 2009, Williams invited great figures like Jon Secada, Bruce Springsteen, and Dave Koz. For this album, Bernie received a Latin Grammy nomination in the instrumental category.
