PHOENIX — Tucson’s tie in the World Baseball Classic here at Chase Field is limited, but interesting.
Saguaro Alumni Alex Verdago One of Mexico’s most popular players.
Center fielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks Alec Thomas Mexicans have family members such as aunts, uncles, nephews, and nieces living in Tucson.
British outfielder Justin Wiley Played for the Arizona Wildcats in 2019.
colombia pitcher Rio Gomezformer Wildcats son of the deceased Pedro Gomez, is the most heartwarming story. On Tuesday in Columbia’s 5-0 loss to Canada, he kept his 1 and his 1/3 innings clean with his two strikeouts.
atlantic Zach Buchannon I wrote an informative article about Rio Gomez It included details Pedro Gomez told Colombia’s pitching coach Walter Miranda At the 2017 World Baseball Classic in Miami, his son will be pitching for Columbia in the upcoming WBC.
Pedro Gomez was glowing from ear to ear as he talked about Rio playing baseball. He shared story after story about his journey and just smiled. He loved being Rio’s dad. God bless Rio and his mom. Pedro, I miss you. https://t.co/6X7xVXC1eO
— Kevin Negandhi (@KevinNegandhi) March 15, 2023
Pedro, a former Arizona Republic reporter and then ESPN MLB reporter, died of a heart attack on February 7, 2021 at the age of 58.
Over the past six years, Miranda has watched Rio progress in the Red Sox’s farm system. He has recorded his 3.27 ERA in 217 2/3 innings at rookie, single-A, and double-A levels since his 2017. He has recorded his 241 strikeouts and his 69 walks.
Colombia named Rio to its roster in January.
“That was his dad’s heartfelt wish,” Miranda told Buchannon.
Rio’s mother Sandy I cheered him on and took a picture of him from the stands with a big smile on Tuesday.
+ + + + +
CDO Graduate Ian KinslerA member of the Dorados’ 1997 and 2000 state championship teams, has been in the World Baseball Classic but is in Miami to play Pool D. Pool C will be held in Phoenix.
Kinsler manages the Israeli team after playing for his country in international competition.
He played for the 2017 WBC Championship Team for the United States before becoming an Israeli citizen in 2020 to play in the Olympics. He is making his directorial debut for Israel with his WBC.
His father Howard was Jewish, grew up in the Bronx, and moved to Tucson in the mid-1970s to play basketball for the University of Arizona freshman team.
His studies in psychology and criminal justice led Elder Kinsler to a correctional career, eventually leading him to a position as Warden at top-security Wilmot Prison.
Ian’s mother Kathy was a longtime Pima County employee.
“My father grew up in New York and I grew up in Tucson, so we’re complete opposite sides of the country,” Ian said at a recent WBC press conference in Miami. It was like once every five or ten years.
“We celebrated Hanukkah growing up and did a little bit of Passover once in a while. So it was quite an eye-opener to have to go to Israel and get citizenship, all the information and everything that country has to offer, and actually with the Jewish people. Just get the historical background of the country of Israel.
“It only brings you closer. You just learn more and more about yourself and your family and how and why all this is happening. The more you learn, the more familiar you become.”
+ + + + +
After Mexico’s 11-5 win over the United States in front of a packed Chase Field, Monday night’s weather was unsettled at Chase Field.
The stadium was about 60% full (29,621 attendees) as the United States beat Canada 12-1 in seven innings.
I actually heard Braves and Astros fans arguing with each other about who was better and their friends eventually had to separate them.
The US and Mexican fans the night before were mostly polite to each other, even though they were sitting next to each other.
Below me sitting in center field in the auxiliary press area, a few US fans went to the section with many Mexican fans and started yelling “USA!” united states of america! “While waving the American flag.
Mexican fans responded with “Me-xi-co! Mexico!”. Some of the fans yelled, “Who’s your daddy?” To American fans because of the biased score. Both groups eventually started laughing and shaking hands.
Can’t we all laugh like that when in conflict?
+ + + + +
We expected to leave the stadium around 10:00 and be back in Tucson by 11:30 p.m. for a shortened game that the United States won by seven innings on Monday night.
No such luck for an early return on Monday.
Road improvements near Riggs Road, a few miles south of Phoenix, delayed traffic for nearly an hour. I got home at 12:30.
Tucsoners driving to the WBC on Wednesday for the final day of the game at Chase Field, be aware of the delay unless, like me, you take a different route.
follow @JAVIERJMORALES on Twitter!
ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club awardee. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beats his reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won his 1996–97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for many publications including CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America.he also wrote a book “Best way to live”, available on Amazon. He became an educator five years before he was born and is currently a special education teacher at the Gallego Fine Arts Intermediate in the Sunnyside Unified School District.
