Our Esquina

6 days 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.

3 weeks 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.

3 weeks 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.

1 month 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.

1 month 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.