Team Colombia's biggest fan? The manager's mom

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Josefina Ramirez will be a special guest when Colombia takes part in Pool C action at Chase Field for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

It only makes sense that the mother of Jolbert Cabrera, who is managing Colombia, and Orlando Cabrera, who is a coach for Colombia, will be there to see her sons and her home team in action. Colombia will play its first game on Saturday, with a 2:30 p.m. ET matchup against Team Mexico.

“You think she was going to miss this?” Jolbert said with a broad smile, adding that his mother’s bags already are packed.

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Team Colombia played an exhibition against the White Sox at Camelback Ranch on Thursday, claiming a 5-4 victory against a squad featuring several prospects but none of manager Pedro Grifol’s everyday starters. It was one last exhibition game for a team soon to be facing off against Teams USA, Great Britain, Canada and Mexico in Pool C competition.

Orlando Cabrera was an integral part of the 2008 White Sox American League Central championship and still holds the White Sox single-season record with 661 at-bats that year. But another key component for Colombia, who also has a strong White Sox connection, is missing, as left-handed hurler José Quintana had to bow out of the World Baseball Classic after he suffered a stress fracture in a rib on his left side while pitching for the New York Mets. Quintana was at the top of the White Sox rotation when he took the international stage for Colombia during the 2017 WBC.

“Well, regardless if he did good or not, he’s just a great loss for us,” Jolbert said. “He’s a fantastic pitcher and better teammate and better human being, for those who don’t know him. He’s fantastic in the clubhouse and with the guys. Not having him around is what really hurts me the most.”

Colombia was short-handed on the pitching side Thursday, so White Sox Minor Leaguers Mike Morin and Luke Shilling took the mound for the WBC entry, with Shilling earning the save by striking out teammate Evan Skoug and then joining the Colombia handshake line. The team includes several returnees from the ‘17 group, including Gio Urshela, Jorge Alfaro and Julio Teheran, who are building baseball’s ongoing popularity in the soccer-rich nation of Colombia.

Urshela was a soccer goalie as a young athlete, but wisely chose baseball.

“Every year, we have more players. We have a lot in the Minor League system. Every year players make it to the big leagues,” Urshela said. “It’s huge for us. Baseball, like I say, is growing every year, and I think we are in a good spot. I feel really proud to represent my country. I’m very excited to be back here.”

“Unfortunately for us that love baseball so much, Colombia is a soccer country. That’s how they run the country,” Jolbert said. “And that’s how you entertain the masses in South America all over the place. But there’s a big following of baseball. Baseball is the No. 1 sport in the North Coast of the country, where all these kids come from.”

Jolbert served as bench coach for Colombia in ’17 and will now be managing in front of his mother, who is retired after a 42-year teaching career. She instilled the love of baseball in her family, along with the Cabreras’ father, Jolbert Sr., who worked as a scout for the then-Florida Marlins among his baseball-related jobs.

On Thursday, Jolbert shared the story of how he was almost born at a baseball stadium in Colombia. His mom got so excited at something happening on the field that she had to be rushed to the hospital to deliver him at just over six months. He also detailed how she received the key to Cartagena from the city’s mayor six years ago when she turned 70, only to respond that she wasn’t sure what had taken so long.

“She said, ‘I give you 42 years and two big leaguers,’” Jolbert said with a laugh. “My mom loves this game so much. Baseball is such a big part of us.”