A new breed of Latino baseball players is born in MLB

The irruption into Major League Baseball by an unexpected contingent of leading figures is still surprising. For about three years now, a group of Latino players has been making their debut in the Major League of Baseball (MLB) who have shaken the foundations of the big top for their extraordinary quality and impact on their respective teams.

This barrage of explosive players began in the 2018 season with the Venezuelan Ronald Acuña Jr., and the Dominican Juan Soto, and has continued with other RD players such as Fernando Tatis Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and the Cubans Randy Arozarena and Luis Robert.

The numbers and feats accomplished by this set of players are staggering. Among these we can mention Acuña, who in his role as leadoff hitter has 22 (of his 96 Jrs.) Starting the game. In his first 348 games he has driven in 218 runs, beating such historical figures as Babe Ruth, Frank Robinson, Jimmie Foxx, Mel Ott, Stan Musial, Ken Griffey Jr., Mike Trout in that number of games. Currently Acuña is the leader in home runs of the Nacional. To his already proven power, Ronald Acuña has exhibited an enormous capacity to steal bases and to convert hits to the infield into infield hits.

For his part, Soto, in the three previous seasons, has averaged a line of: 415 / 557/972 for an OPS + 153, which is undoubtedly impressive. Soto was the leader in batting average in OBP, and in OPS + of the National during 2020.

Last week Tatis hit 50 home runs and did it in his 171st game.

In MLB history, only four players (Alonso, York, Sánchez and McGwire) reached that number in fewer games. In addition to power, Tatis has shown speed. In this campaign he is leading in stolen bases (10) in the old circuit.

And as for Vladimir Guerrero Jr., after two relatively modest seasons, his bat has ignited this season, as he has 15 home runs to lead the AL. He also heads the departments of SLG, OPS and OPS +, as well as that of total bases reached.

In 2020 Arozarena shone with Tampa in the postseason. For his torrid batting he was chosen as the MVP of the Championship Series against the Houston Astros. He was in the World Series against the Dodgers, hitting three home runs and averaging a 1,234 OPS.

This season his OPS is somewhat low (816), however, he has 25 RBIs and 16 extra-base hits.

As he still (with the two previous seasons) does not meet the minimum number of games, he opts for the rookie of the year award.

Staying on a stellar basis in the majors depends on factors intrinsic to the athlete and, naturally, factors external to the player.

We must be attentive to these figures and their development. That is where Wander Franco, a Dominican SS man who is said to have wonders, will be coming shortly. This Latino break into the majors does not stop. It is the growth of a new breed of players. Good news!

“You have to be aware of these figures and their development. The Latino bursting into the majors does not stop ”.