In the middle of Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, the Tampa Bay Rays had something special in mind.
For the first time in history, a team has an all-Latino lineup, which is quite impressive to say the least.
“The Rays’ starting hitters in today’s game are all Latino. That’s the first time in MLB history that it’s happened (h/t @triciawhitaker),” B/R Walk-Off tweeted.
The Rays' starting hitters in today's game are all Latino.
That's the first time in MLB history that it's happened 🙌
(h/t @triciawhitaker) pic.twitter.com/Ov25Nr5oE0
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) September 15, 2022
The best thing of all is that the lineup is actually quite competitive.
Here is it, courtesy of the Rays’ official Twitter account:
Sugar Shane and the boys#RaysUp pic.twitter.com/AXphzv3XuF
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) September 15, 2022
Cy Young candidate Shane McClanahan is taking the mound against the Toronto Blue Jays in the series finale at Rogers Centre, but as far as the lineup concerns, they are all Latino.
The All-Latino Lineup And The Represented Countries
Yandy Díaz and Randy Arozarena are from Cuba, Wander Franco, Manuel Margot and Jose Siri hail from the Dominican Republic, Colombia is represented by Harold Ramírez, and David Peralta and Rene Pinto are from Venezuela.
Mexico is also represented by Isaac Paredes.
According to the Rays official site, the Elias Sports Bureau confirmed it was the first time all nine hitters in a starting lineup were born in a Latin American country.
What a way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
Tampa may not have the biggest fan base in baseball, but it does have a lot of Latino fans by virtue of being located in Florida.
In addition to geography, the team has also given a platform to Latino players, and its biggest star, Wander Franco (the one they paid dearly to retain over the long-term) is Dominican.
Let’s see in a few hours how the all-Latino lineup fares against a tough foe in the Jays.
NEXT: Stars Returning For Rays Could Mean Problems For AL