MLB highlights efforts & contributions of the Latino baseball community during Hispanic Heritage Month
Major League Baseball and its Clubs will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with an array of special programming and content focused on celebrating the contributions to baseball by Latino players past and present. The events and programming will feature new episodes of MLB Originals series spotlighting Latino stars and culture, special programming on MLB Network, in-park and virtual events taking place during pregame ceremonies and social and digital content across MLB’s bilingual platforms.
This year’s celebration, which takes place over the weekend of September 18 – 20 and includes Club events throughout the month of September, is under the banner “Somos MLB” (translates to We Are MLB) to embrace how the Latino community has influenced and shaped the game. “Somos MLB” continues the efforts of the league’s “Ponle Acento” (“Put an Accent on It”) campaign that began in 2016.
MLB Originals, the league’s new slate of programming on YouTube, will feature some exciting new episodes and content during Hispanic Heritage Month.
- A special roundtable discussion featuring Cleveland All-Star Francisco Lindor, Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., two-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana and Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera and moderated by MLB’s Jesse Sanchez explores the path each of these talented Latino players took to reach the Major Leagues and the impact of their heritage on that journey. (Debuts Friday, September 18)
- In a special edition of “Newlybros”, an adaptation of the gameshow that pairs MLB stars with close friends in and out of the league and tests their knowledge, World Champion Washington National outfielder Juan Soto chats with popular Dominican rapper El Alfa. (Debuts late September)
- Miami-based, Venezuelan-born chef and television personality Chef Yisus prepares traditional Venezuelan arepas for fellow countryman and Marlins pitcher Pablo Lopez, where the two connect about their shared heritage and the culture in Miami in a new show, “Nuestra Comida.” (Debuts early October)
- A new episode of “Top 9” explores how Latino players past and present have impacted today’s game and how elements of Latino culture such as music and food have influenced the ballpark experience. (Debuts early October)
MLB’s official Spanish-language social media presence, @LasMayores, will continue to spotlight Latino players that have made an impact on baseball and showcase the strength of Hispanic culture throughout the league. All Clubs have both Spanish-Language Facebook and Twitter accounts to further engage Latino audiences. MLB.com, LasMayores.com - MLB’s official Spanish website, and all of MLB’s Spanish-Language platforms will celebrate Latino culture putting special emphasis during Hispanic Heritage Month.
As a reflection of this unprecedented time in history, special content planned includes recognizing the efforts of Latino/Latina front line heroes helping battle and contain the COVID-19 pandemic as well as social movements led by Latinos/Latinas that have connected and built bridges within diverse communities.