La Vida Baseball

Molina, Beltrán, Correa call for change in Puerto Rico

By Jose de Jesus Ortiz

St. Louis Cardinals great Yadier Molina, arguably the most respected Puerto Rican ballplayer currently in the majors, joined the chorus of Boricuas calling for embattled Puerto Rico governor Ricardo Rosselló to resign. He added his name on social media to the #Rickyrenuncia hashtag, which translates to #Rickyresign.

Molina, 37, is one of dozens of Puerto Rican players who have raised millions to help their island rebuild since Hurricane Maria. The nine-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glove winner is revered back home and in St. Louis for his work behind the plate. Several Puerto Rican ballplayers, including former Rookie of the Year Carlos Correa of the Astros, Enrique Hernandez of the Dodgers and former big league stars Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado, also called for change in Puerto Rico.

Many consider Molina a likely Hall of Famer because of his storied career with the Cardinals. More than that, however, he’s respected for his altruism and commitment to the less fortunate in Puerto Rico and St. Louis, which is partly why he was honored with the prestigious 2019 Roberto Clemente Award.

Molina has been an unquestioned leader on the last two Puerto Rican World Baseball Classic teams, so his comments about Rosselló will likely resonate back home and among Boricuas in the majors.

“Today we all stand up united against the injustice, falsehoods, deception and corruption!” Molina wrote in Spanish on his Instagram page. “We are tired! It is done. We all stand together! Puerto Rico I love you! God bless everybody! #

Until his retirement after he helped the Astros win the 2017 World Series, Carlos Beltran joined Molina as the two most respected Boricuas in the majors.

He expressed his feelings on Roselló clearly.

“We Puerto Ricans stand up today against: corruption, insensitivity, lack of respect, injustice, mockery, shame, and the negative portrayal of a humble, honest, and hardworking people,” Beltran wrote in Spanish. “Today we rise up against the corruption of past governments, the current government, and against the next aspiring group who come with the mentality of leading our country with personal agendas to steal and benefit their own group. Today we rise up against the one who does not fulfill the privilege for which they were called and the duty to serve.”

The ballplayers joined a chorus that includes acclaimed playwright and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the hit musical Hamilton, and accomplished rapper Daddy Yankee, who was prominent last week during the Major League Baseball All-Star week in Cleveland.

Beltrán, Delgado, Correa and Red Sox manager Álex Cora also called on their fellow Boricuas to protest Roselló, who has been under fire back home since somebody leaked a group chat that showed him and his advisers making sexist and misogynistic comments.

“Proud to be Puerto Rican!” Correa wrote in Spanish on Instagram. “Let’s keep fighting for our rights. Let’s keep fighting for a better future. Don’t stay at home. Let’s take action and be part of change! Unite for a better tomorrow! #Rickyrenuncia”

Delgado, another former Roberto Clemente Award winner, had harsh words for Roselló.

“Another of the reasons Ricardo Roselló should resign: The hypocrisy and the continued lack of respect to the community is without precedent,” Delgado wrote in Spanish. “To be a leader, one has to have morals, respect, and empathy. He hasn’t demonstrated any of these.”

 

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Puerto Rico, antes de ser artista soy puertorriqueño. Mi corazón sufre por los acontecimientos de mi país, y mi voz se une a la de todos aquellos que más que una explicación, exigen un cambio. Ante la adversidad, siempre está la oportunidad de cambio y de reflexión. La transparencia tiene que ser parte de nuestra cultura para combatir la corrupción. Me uno a la protesta pacífica, al reclamo de transparencia, y, sobre todo, a la exigencia de respeto por parte de quienes en su momento nos vendieron villas y castillas. Hoy, más que nunca, nuestro pueblo tiene el escenario y el micrófono para hacerse sentir a nivel mundial. Llevemos nuestra indignación con respeto, prudencia, pero con firmeza y determinación. Nací en PR, vivo en #PR y seguiré en mi isla pase lo que pase. - Raymond Ayala

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“This post is for (my people)!” Hernandez wrote on instagram. “This is to say that politics and sports should never be in the same same conversation, but today is a day in which it is necessary. I wish I could be in my island marching in unison with the rest of the people of Puerto Rico, just like I do it with my team in search of a championship! We have SO MUCH to offer, we’ve passed through tough times, but we always rise stronger than yesterday. TOGETHER, like always, we do what is needed when things become difficult; it’s when we’re at our best. THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN ??”

 

Featured Image: Harry How / Getty Images Sport