Indians players made a donation to the community in Puerto Rico where Lindor grew upGETTY IMAGES
The Twins and Indians face off in MLB's Puerto Rico Series today and tomorrow as the island "gets back on its feet" following Hurricane Maria last fall, according to La Velle Neal III of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. MLB's Puerto Rico Series was announced "before the hurricane hit, but despite the damage, locals were undeterred." Throughout Puerto Rico's recovery, baseball "has been its crutch." The games are "sold out, and Hiram Bithorn Stadium (which holds slightly more than 18,000) will be overflowing with 39,000 tickets sold." The two days "will celebrate what some consider to be a golden age for the sport of the island." Twins P Jose Berrios and LF Eddie Rosario, both natives of the island, have "gotten heroes’ welcomes." Part of Hurricane Maria's damage was at the ballpark, where a statue of Bithorn "fell off its base and was smashed on the ground." The base "has been repaired, but not the statue yet." The ballpark lights "have been replaced" and the outfield bleachers, bullpens and batting cages also "had to be repaired or replaced." A "fresh coat of paint was slapped on the exterior over the weekend" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 4/17). MLB Network's Jon Morosi said the two-game series is a "celebration of the fact that Puerto Rico is back, open for business again" ("The Rundown," MLB Network, 4/16). Baseball HOFer and Puerto Rico native Roberto Alomar said, "After the devastation here in Puerto Rico, all we hear is sad news. But I think baseball is great news and everyone's excited, especially the youth" ("MLB Tonight," MLB Network, 4/16). A ceremony to "honor local citizens who went above and beyond the call to help others during Hurricane Maria" will be held "before the start of the first game" tonight (OHIO.com, 4/16).
STILL WORK TO DO: The AP's Tim Reynolds noted many hope the series "will remind the rest of the world that recovery from the storm is far from over." Red Sox manager Alex Cora, a Puerto Rico native, said, "I hate to say it, but this is a great platform, so people can see the reality. We're much better than six, seven months ago, whenever it was. But we've still got work to do." Fellow island native Astros SS Carlos Correa said, "People are still suffering over there. And to be able to bring baseball, the sport that we love the most, back to my hometown -- it's going to be amazing." Twins manager Paul Molitor: "We have a chance to have influence. ... MLB, the Twins and the Indians have all done a good job of coordinating as many things as we can during the course of those three days without detracting from the fact that we're there to play baseball" (AP, 4/15). MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said, "It will be an opportunity to reemphasize the fact that there needs to be a lot of rebuilding done in Puerto Rico" ("Get Up!," ESPN, 4/13). In Cleveland, Paul Hoynes notes the Indians "donated a full playoff share from the division series (worth $36,782.74) to the communities" where Puerto Rico natives SS Francisco Lindor and C Roberto Perez grew up (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 4/17).
