'Baseball is culture': Pedro Martinez joins Marlins for Serie del Caribe

MIAMI -- As soon as the Marlins knew they would have the privilege of hosting the first Serie del Caribe at a Major League ballpark, the organization went to work looking for partnerships.

Marlins president of business operations Caroline O’Connor and Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez on Thursday afternoon detailed why the Miami Marlins Foundation and Pedro Martinez Foundation teamed up for the upcoming Caribbean Series, which will take place from Feb. 1-9 at loanDepot park.

“We've been talking for over a year,” O’Connor said. “We've known for a few years that we were going to be lucky enough to host the Caribbean Series in 2024, and one of the first outreaches we made was to the Pedro Martinez Foundation. We have the academy in the Dominican Republic. We see so much of the good work that they do. And Pedro's an icon of the game, having given so much to Caribbean baseball. We know our own ace Sandy Alcantara looks up to Pedro, and really thanked him when he won his [NL] Cy Young in 2022. So Pedro was one of the first organizations that we reached out to.”

The Caribbean Series is a seven-team tournament featuring the champion from each of the four professional baseball winter leagues in the Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation (Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Mexico), as well as one representative each from Nicaragua, Panama and Curaçao.

Both foundations will share the proceeds of the 50/50 raffle from each of the 25 tournament games. In addition, there will be a collectible cup available exclusively at the ballpark, with proceeds benefiting the Pedro Martinez Foundation. As a flagship nonprofit organization at the Caribbean Series, the Pedro Martinez Foundation will play a role in supporting struggling youth through education, health and sports programs.

“We're extremely excited to join forces in this,” said Martinez, who stopped by Kensington Park Elementary, a Marlins Slugger Schoolhouse, after the press conference. “As you know, I never like to speak too much about what we do in the community, but I think it's so important. I think it's really important that people get to understand better our culture. I think the Caribbean Series right now, and the fact that we're here in Miami with such a mixed city, I think brings a beautiful opportunity for everybody to understand better why we are so loud, so happy, so excited about playing the game. And I think that culture needs to really be exposed. I think people need to understand how much we care about the youth.”

The Pedro Martinez Foundation, founded by Martinez, is dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of youth in both the United States and Latin America. Through its commitment to educational opportunities, healthcare support and sports initiatives, the foundation aims to empower and uplift those in need.

The Pedro Martinez Foundation also will host “Caribbean Feast,” an exclusive event from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. ET on Feb. 8 at loanDepot park. Attendees will enjoy chef tastings, meet-and-greet opportunities with Martinez and other athletes, an on-field experience with Martinez and tickets to the semifinal game at 3 p.m. ET. To purchase tickets for the event, visit https://pedromartinezfoundation.com/.

“That's what people don't understand, they don't get it,” said Martinez, who provided the anecdote of Ronald Acuña Jr. accepting his 2023 NL MVP Award before a winter ball game. “They don't get the love and passion that we have for the game, and that's why I think it's so important that we bring all of that. And right along with the responsibility that we have with the community to help improve others, to help make them better, I think it's another factor that we really need to work on, so that kids understand that baseball is beyond the white lines.

“Baseball is more than just baseball. Baseball is culture. It's love, it's passion. It's a career, of course, but it's more than that. It's more responsibility than people know. And we love the challenge of having to be a baseball player and the things that we have to do to actually make it better every single day.”