Our Esquina

3 weeks 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.

4 weeks 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.

4 weeks 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.

1 month 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.

1 month ago | ouresquina.com | Angel Cantu |Sinhue Mendoza |Julian Guiliarte

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Astros starting pitcher Ronel Blanco is ready to build on his breakout season. He hopes the work he put in this off-season in the Dominican Republic pays off. Blanco, 31, made his MLB debut in 2022, but everything finally clicked last season. He had a career-best 2.84 ERA while throwing a career-high 167 ⅓ innings. “This off-season I put in a lot of work,” he says. “Hopefully that gets reflected into this season.”Blanco’s velocity on his fastball is around 92-95 mph.