Our Esquina

Welcome to Our Esquina, a special place dedicated to sports and arts. With over twenty years of experience in sports journalism, I've been on a quest to find a space that honors Latino stories throughout the year. This passion led to the creation of Our Esquina Media and ouresquina.com, where we shine a light on those narratives.

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A’s reliever Anthony Maldonado learned from big moments

6 days ago | ouresquina.com | Angel Cantu

HOUSTON – Before A’s reliever Anthony Maldonado toed the rubber for the first time in the majors for the Marlins last season, he had already experienced pitching in big moments. As a freshman he was Bethune-Cookman University’s ace in the NCAA Tournament. The Wellington, Fla., native has also pitched in the World Baseball Classic. Maldonado, who was optioned to Class AAA Las Vegas on Saturday, was part of Puerto Rico’s roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Isaac Paredes reunites with Mexican youth national team coach

1 week ago | ouresquina.com | Angel Cantu

HOUSTON – Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes chatted with a familiar face on the field at Daikin Park on Tuesday afternoon. He was later joined by teammate Cesar Salazar and the Athletics’ Luis Urias. Salazar, Urias and Paredes were pleased to see professor Alvaro Valenzuela. The quartet spent the entire time smiling and reminiscing about Sonora; Mexico, their home state.
Royals righty Seth Lugo thrives with deep arsenal

3 weeks ago | ouresquina.com | Angel Cantu

HOUSTON – What started as a dabbling around with different baseball grips has turned the Royals’ Seth Lugo into a distinguished pitcher with one of the deepest arsenals in the majors. According to Statcast, Lugo has thrown 10 different types of pitches between 71.1 mph to 92 mph. However, the Shreveport, La., native is adamant he’s thrown more than the 10 that major league baseball has listed. As a member of the Padres in 2023, Lugo sought to throw a more efficient slider.
Isaac Paredes fulfills promise to abuela

4 weeks ago | ouresquina.com | Angel Cantu

HOUSTON – Astros slugger Isaac Paredes was 8 years old when he first started walking with his grandmother Gloria to his first baseball practice. Gloria and the future All-Star would trek almost two miles through the Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, streets to reach their local ballpark. Paredes, who was raised by his grandmother, considers his grandmother as his mother. She’s the one he thinks of the most on May 10, which is Mother’s Day in Mexico and several North American countries.
Alejandro Kirk hopes to play for Mexico in WBC

1 month ago | ouresquina.com | Angel Cantu

HOUSTON – Alejandro Kirk was set to represent Mexico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic in Miami. However, because of the birth of his daughter, the Tijuana native withdrew to accompany his wife for their special moment. Once his daughter was born, he had the obligation to return to the Blue Jays for spring training to work with their pitching staff. More importantly for Kirk, because he was expected to be Toronto’s primary catcher. He missed the WBC for a great reason.
Padres All-Star Luis Arraez credits childhood game

1 month ago | ouresquina.com | Angel Cantu

HOUSTON – For Luis Arraez, his elite hand-eye coordination at the plate is rooted from a children’s game he played in his home country. The San Felipe, Venezuela, native would routinely play chapita on weekends with his family. Chapita is a version of stick ball. A pitcher tosses a bottle cap to a batter who is holding a stick to try to strike the small piece of metal. It is similar to the Dominican Republic’s version that is called vitilla. Arraez enjoyed playing chapita.
Mets infielder Mark Vientos enjoys his multicultural roots

2 months ago | ouresquina.com | Julian Guiliarte |Lorenzo Delgado |Angel Cantu

HOUSTON – The aroma of gallo pinto, a traditional Nicaraguan dish of rice and beans, would consistently fill the air of Mark Vientos’ childhood home. On colder days, a warm bowl of Dominican sancocho would please his taste buds. Although Vientos was born in Norwalk, Conn., the Mets‘ infielder enjoyed the blessings of roots in three different countries. His mother Katy Wilmor is from Nicaragua. His father Charles Manuel Vientos is from the Dominican Republic.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza embraces high expectations

2 months ago | ouresquina.com | Lorenzo Delgado |Julian Guiliarte |Angel Cantu

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Carlos Mendoza understands the pressure and high expectations of competing in New York. As far as the Mets manager is concerned, high expectations are part of the job in Queens. After guiding the Mets to the 2024 National League Championship Series, Mendoza perhaps has an even better team with the addition of prized free agent Juan Soto. “There’s always going to be expectations,” he says. “It’s New York. It’s a big market.
UCLA star Gabriela Jaquez exudes confidence, style

2 months ago | ouresquina.com | Lorenzo Delgado |Julian Guiliarte |Angel Cantu |Sinhue Mendoza

Wearing a green summer dress, 3-year-old Gabriela Jaquez placed a plastic baseball atop a tee. She then extended her left arm and urged her younger brother Marcos to get back closer to their older brother Jaime. Once Marcos was a safe distance away, Gabriela checked the bat with authority on the porch twice before taking a powerful hack. Gabriela Jaquez sent a line drive off a fence and toward the swing set in the backyard.
Mom helps Astros give Cam Smith call to big leagues

2 months ago | ouresquina.com | Julian Guiliarte |Angel Cantu |Sinhue Mendoza |Lorenzo Delgado

HOUSTON – Astros top prospect Cam Smith informed his mother, Stephanie Hocza, about his dream of becoming a professional baseball player at five years old. Like any mother would do, she supported her son’s dream. Hocza and Smith lived in an apartment through middle school. Smith’s friends thought it was cool that he lived in an apartment because they thought it was just like a hotel. Hocza, a single parent, would depart to work early to provide for her family.