San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Maldonado stays true to his roots
MIAMI — Martín Maldonado spent this workday, like most others, mostly covered up by protective equipment. But the signs of pride relayed by his gear were unmistakable.
Poking out from under his custom Puerto Rican flag catcher’s mask, locs of blondebleached hair dyed to copy his teammates and coaches. Beneath his matching chest protector, the name of his birthplace emblazoned across a white uniform. Across his feet, the names of those who best embody the island’s rich baseball history.
Maldonado’s custom-made cleats, in the colors of the Puerto Rican flag, were decorated with the names of countrymen who inspire him: Edgar Martínez, Roberto Clemente, Carlos Beltrán, Bernie Williams, Juan “Igor” González, Yadier Molina and many others.
They were on Maldonado’s mind as he crouched behind the plate on Saturday, a veteran catcher much more seasoned than the young buck who first represented Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic in 2013.
A decade removed from his first World Baseball Classic, and after he skipped the last iteration in 2017, Maldonado is back for his second go-around — and what could be his final WBC as a player. Even if he isn’t quite ready to admit it.
“Think that I might retire?” the Astros catcher said with a mischievous grin. “Next one is in 2026. You never know!”
On the precipice of his 13th major-league season, Maldonado helped Puerto Rico, which is seeking its first WBC title, beat Nicaragua 9-1 in the first game of pool play at loanDepot Park.
Puerto Rico finished as the runner-up in the last two editions of the tournament, which is being played for the first time in six years after the 2021 version was postponed due to the pandemic. The postponement stole another opportunity Maldonado might have had to represent Puerto Rico, which he does with vigor.
“Maldy is excited. He knows it could be his last World Classic,” said Astros hitting coach Alex Cintrón, who is serving as bench coach for Puerto Rico. “He’s really, really excited for this opportunity. He’s 36 years old. The next one, in four years, he might be 40. He might be the manager. Who knows?”
Maldonado donned a No. 15 jersey, the same number he wears for the Astros. At 36, Maldonado is the oldest player on Puerto Rico’s roster and closer in age to 40-year-old first-time manager Molina than to many of his teammates.
As a whole, the Puerto Rican roster this year is more experienced than in the previous two tournaments. Of the squad’s 30 active players, 12 are playing in at least their second WBC.
It marks the third tournament for José Berríos and Eddie Rosario, the only current members besides Maldonado (and Molina) who were also on the 2013 roster. Maldonado is five years older than Rosario.
Youth or lack thereof notwithstanding, Maldonado said he doesn’t take any of it for granted.
“It’s crazy, this is one of the best tournaments I ever played,” he said. “The opportunity to represent your country, there’s a lot of people that are behind you. Family and friends, mom and dad, and the whole island. So I’m humbled and happy to be able to represent them.”
In Miami, home to a large Puerto Rican population, fans showed up in droves to cheer on the team in its first game of the tournament.
“It feels like a World Series,” Cintrón said. “But the atmosphere, I feel like the fans are gonna get crazy. It’s gonna be way, way different than the World Series. There’s going to be music. It’s going to be loud. That’s what they want. That’s what we like about playing for Puerto Rico.”
After hearing the ballpark practically reverberate with noise during Puerto Rico’s victory, Maldonado didn’t disagree with the comparison.
“Close,” he said. “But (in the) World Series we play for the whole city, people that love you and people that follow you all year, you know? And when you play for the island of Puerto Rico, you play for way more people.”
Maldonado’s first WBC tournament came four years before he won a Gold Glove with the Angels and five years before his first postseason appearance with the Astros in 2018.
On Saturday, Maldonado steered six Puerto Rico pitchers through eight innings of one-run ball and helped starter Marcus Stroman retire the first nine batters he faced.
Not renowned as a hitter, Maldonado batted last in Puerto Rico’s lineup but went 2-for-4 with one run scored.
The energy in the stands and on the field was palpable. It is the kind of emotion that might inspire Maldonado, even if his playing days are behind him when the next 20th anniversary edition of the WBC arrives in 2026, to follow in Molina’s footsteps and switch from player to manager for Puerto Rico.
“We’ll see,” Maldonado said. “I’ll let you know. I haven’t made that decision yet. We’ll see how this time around goes. If I’m going to be able to help the young guys out, who knows?”
For now, his work this time around is not done.