Sox, Rays get to be kids again in PLAY BALL event in DR

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- For most Dominican baseball players, love of the game starts at childhood by playing “Vitilla,” a game in which a broomstick is the bat and a bottle cap is the ball.

It is the Dominican Republic’s version of stickball, and it was the theme of MLB’s PLAY BALL event for local youth in Santo Domingo.

The event was in conjunction with this weekend’s MLB Dominican Republic Series between the Red Sox and Rays.

Players from both teams were all too happy to relive their youth Saturday morning by joining the kids for some genuine fun.

Just hours before Brayan Bello was unveiled at a press conference to announce his six-year, $55 million extension with the Red Sox, the Dominican righty stood in the baking sun outside of Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal and felt like a kid again.

“Besides how hot it was, it was great,” said Bello. “It was a great experience. We were doing, ‘Let’s go, Bello’ chants with the kids, and, ‘Let’s go, Red Sox' as well. It was a big group, and it was nice to share time with them and show them how to throw the Vitilla.”

Bello threw a bullpen session Saturday, so he didn’t exert too much into his throws with the kids.

But he was all too happy to take a couple of big swings.

“I hit it two times,” said Bello, who added playfully that he hit the bottle cap a long way.

The Rays were represented by Jose Siri, Randy Arozarena and Dominican prospect Ronny Simon. Utility infielder Pablo Reyes joined Bello as Boston’s contingent.

“It was very fun,” said Siri. “We had a great time out there. We were playing with the kids, enjoyed the time with them, and we took a lot of pictures with them. Moments like that, it gives you nostalgia, and the kids appreciate it."

Siri also made sure to have some fun with one of his teammates.

“I hit first,” Siri said. “Randy was throwing at me from [a side-arm angle], and I was throwing to him kind of inside.”

Simon remembers what moments like this were like when he was growing up.

“As a kid, when you see ballplayers like that, it’s a dream come true for you,” said Simon, the Rays' No. 27 prospect. “So for them to be as enthusiastic as they were to see me, it was a very special thing.”

Reyes worked up a legitimate sweat playing Vitilla with the kids. The chance to interact with them was every bit as important.

“The first thing I told all them is, 'You just have to keep going,'” Reyes said. “'No matter what happens in your life, you have to go for it. You never know where you’re going to be tomorrow, so keep going and do the right thing.' They came here to see us players. We have to do the best we can for them to follow us.”