Yolmer and Salvy helping teammates smile through struggles

By Catherine Garcia

Taking part in a struggling season is never easy. So many factors play into a team not meeting expectations, from health to individual performance. Losing is never fun.

Being a veteran on a team that is openly rebuilding can make that harder. But being a leader and maintaining a positive approach can help accelerate the development of younger players once they reach the big leagues.

For two Venezuelan veterans in Kansas City and the southside of Chicago, this hasn’t been an easy season. The White Sox and Royals aren’t fighting for playoff positions anymore, but two players have stepped into significant leadership roles on young teams.

Royal Leader

Salvador Pérez, the eight-year veteran All-Star catcher of the Royals and one of the last remaining members of the 2015 World Series championship team, has a well-established reputation around baseball as being Kansas City’s lifeline for leadership, positivity and fun. He has seen this team through a lot.

“It’s part of my job to [be a leader],” Pérez told La Vida Baseball. “Especially for the young guys, we talk a lot. I try to tell them to do the best. And if you try and, obviously you’re doing the best, you’re going to be fine with what happens.”

Pérez was raised by his single mother, Yilda Diaz, after his father left when he was young. His mother instilled in him a strong work ethic and belief that doing things the right way with a positive attitude. His teammates and coaches appreciate what Pérez brings to the game every day.

“[Pérez’s leadership] is really important because he shows up with so much energy and he’s just so positive every day,” Royals manager Ned Yost told La Vida Baseball. “He’s such a great teammate. He’s very supportive to the rest of his teammates, and his leadership inside the locker room is valuable.

“He just was blessed with having a phenomenal personality. I mean, his mom raised him right. He’s very respectful and he just lives every day to the fullest. You have to admire that.”

While the coaches appreciate his leadership, pitcher Jason Hammel noted that during the times that the season has started to wear on players it has been Pérez who has helped break up the monotony. The resume Pérez has put together deserves the respect of his teammates. Hammel said it’s equally important to help the team stay together.

“It’s not easy to lose this many times,” Hammel said. “It’s not fun. Even though we’re working hard and trying to win as many games as often as we can, you gotta still have fun or else it’s miserable. ‘Salvy’ is one of the guys who leads on that.”

Chicago Smile

Like Pérez, White Sox infielder Yolmer Sánchez is a guy who keeps it loose on the South Side of Chicago. While the Sox are also enduring the hardships of a losing record in the midst of a rebuild, as soon as Sanchez walks into a room, no matter what the circumstances are, it lights up and simply radiates with his lighthearted aura.

“You have to ask the guys how important it is,” Sánchez said of his clubhouse presence. “For me, it’s just me being me. I don’t try to be like ‘Oh no, because we lost a couple of games I’ll try to be fun.’ That’s who I am and I try to be like that every single day, come here every day with the same energy and do my best. I think the guys enjoy when I try to keep the clubhouse loose and be ready for the game.”

His fun-loving approach to the game – and life – doesn’t stay inside the clubhouse.

White Sox catcher Omar Narvaez has been friends with Sánchez since they were five years old growing up together in Venezuela.

Narvaez insists that the Sánchez you see in Chicago is the same guy he grew up playing with in Venezuela.

“He’s somebody that we kind of need,” Narvaez said. “Because he is a happy guy, he is always positive, he always tries to help, so it’s really, really good to have him in the clubhouse. You know sometimes someone is not doing good, but we all know he’s got our back.”

Sánchez has earned the respect of his teammates and the organization. He was  the Heart and Hustle Award Winner for the White Sox this season. He readily admits that playing with a smile on his face is an important part of his game.

He points to his Venezuelan roots as the source of his smile.

“It was fun [in Venezuela],” Sánchez said. “It’s a lot different now than when we were kids. I love my country. We have everything there; Great food, great people, everything.

“It’s always good to learn from other cultures. Bringing your culture from your country is always good. We are here to know each other and to learn a little about everyone and everything here so it’s always good when you can share your culture with your teammates.”

For the Royals and White Sox, the long season is entering the final stretch with a smile because Sánchez and Pérez keep their respective clubhouses on their toes the Venezuelan way.

Featured Image: Ron Vesely / Getty Images Sport