Tokyo Japan – Puerto Rican baseball is present at the Tokyo Olympics.
Although the national team did not qualify for the Olympiad, Catañese Edwin Hernández is one of the referees for the tournament.
“It has been an experience that exceeded my expectations. I had worked in the World (Baseball) Classic in 2017 in Miami, but this is something else. It is something very special to represent the country and all Puerto Rican referees, ”Hernández told THE SPOKESMAN prior to the game between Mexico and the Dominican Republic last week at Yokohama Baseball Stadium, where he worked on the replay (or replay).
Hernández said that the treatment received so far “has been spectacular” and the experience of sharing with people from different parts of the world at that level is something he longed for as a referee.
The referee with more than 37 years of experience made his debut at first base in the game between Israel and South Korea.
“It has been a blessing; a special thing ”, expressed the pride of the Amelia neighborhood, in Guaynabo.
Hernández said that the assignments to work the games are made daily.
Before making his debut at the Olympic level, he had already worked in a Pre-Olympic in China in 2008 and as recently as last June he was active in the qualifier in Florida, where Puerto Rico could not obtain the ticket to Tokyo.
Also, he worked in the game for the gold medal in Mayagüez 2010.
Hernández is a veteran of the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (Lbprc) and of the Superior Double A Baseball of the Puerto Rico Baseball Federation.
“Those have been my schools and I thank them – the Federation and the league – for being here. They are responsible for this, ”Hernández said. “I am representing all my fellow referees in the country.”
Hernandez, 54, said he had mixed emotions when he took to the field of the home of the Japanese team Yokohama DeNA BayStars.
“It was going out onto the pitch and now you become an Olympian, and that is a great feeling. Also, seeing the park empty was frustrating in a game where the people (of Japan) are so passionate. But the important thing is that we were able to do it. We got here with many prayers, ”said Hernández, who praised the covid-19 protocols and the Yokohama Baseball Stadium facilities.
After this experience, Hernández wants to go back to work in a World Baseball Classic before preparing for his retirement with the Olympic diploma in his hands.
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