Closing My First Regular Season in US Pro Baseball
The Hartford Yard Goats closed their home schedule for the 2025 Regular Season in the Eastern League with a loss against the Reading Fighting Phills. Although the Chivos bid farewell to their fans with a loss and rather uncertain (currently confirmed) possibilities to make it to the postseason, it was a magical campaign.
For the first time since coming to the United States, I was able to cover most of the season, going to at least one game per series. I was also able to work alongside the team in organizing the Cuban Heritage Night, which will not be held in 2026, but which I found to be a personal success.
The chance to attend the home team’s opener and closing, the privilege of being on the field several times, going to every Chivos Night (except for the Venezuelan night, which I missed because I was feeling sick), and connecting with the fans and other photographers was a unique experience.
Both the Hartford Yard Goats and the Yard Goats Foundation showed me what it was like to be part of a baseball family that reaches out to the local community and finds every possible way of not only getting involved, but also making an impact. Reaching out to local pillars of the community, teachers, students, doctors, judges, lawyers, construction workers, relatives of victims of tragedy, first responders and veterans is a staple in Dunkin’ Park for every single game.
The privilege to attend the home opener and witnessing a homerun by Kyle Karros (whose father Eric Karros was the 1992 NL Rookie of the Year, and whose trading card I own) was great. But what was unparalleled that night was the fact that the Goats were playing the Somerset Patriots, and penciled Matanzas-born Alexander Vargas as their second baseman, while the Chivos had done the same with Havana-born Dyan Jorge. To me, this was as special as it can get: witnessing the Opening Day of a team in the US, and having two of my countrymen man the same position for both the locals and the visitors.
Then, there was the Dominican night, which allowed me to see the first Chivos Night through the eye of a credentialed media photographer. It was extremely colorful and vibrant, and I loved every second of it.
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the Venezuelan Heritage Night, but it was all compensated with my second Negro League Celebration, won again by the Yard Goats in walk-off fashion. Getting to spend time again with my longtime friend Lynette Taylor Grande, daughter of Negro league legend Johnny “Schoolboy” Taylor, who was one of Connecticut’s great black athletes during the age of segregation.
The icing on the cake for me was the Cuban Heritage Night. As the mastermind behind that idea (I can proudly call myself that), I got a lot of people involved. The Yard Goats were extremely gracious not only hosting them, but also bringing Cuban Negro League legend Pedro Sierra for the second time (he was at the Negro League celebration in 2024) thanks to the Hartford Yard Goats Foundation. I also got a lot of meaningful people and Cuban and American friends involved, and I have to say it was the highlight of my entire summer. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I was unable to take many photos of the game. My friend Yasel Porto, one of the Spanish announcers for the Yard Goats, was alone in the booth that day, and he asked me to be his second voice, So, while I lost my opportunity to photograph what was the most important game of the season for me, I gained the opportunity of being FOR THE FIRST TIME (I was never given such an honor in YEARS working in Cuba) to comment an entire baseball game live.
I was also privileged to attend the Puerto Rican night, where I not only saw my friend Karel García throw one of the ceremonial first pitches for receiving the Roberto Clemente award of the Los Amigos Softball league, but also got to meet Luis Clemente, Roberto Clemente’s son. I also ean into a lot of friends from the softball league and into Yaira Lebron-Rojas and her husband Reinaldo, both proud Puerto Ricans who have made an impact in Connecticut as respected academicians.
The last two important moments were with my SABR (Society for American Baseball Research) friends Cole McMahon (who came from Baltimore) and Abby Rosario (who came from her vacation at Cape Cod). Watching a baseball game as a fan was something I hadn’t done in years, and even though I took photos on both instances, I sat and had a meal and a drink with baseball friends.
I was already told that I will be credentialed for the 2026 season, and it will be my honor to photograph every Hispanic Heritage Night although next year there will be no Cuban Night. The Yard Goats are by far the best baseball organization I have had the honor to work with. Their community outreach, their friendliness, and the amazing job that they do to draw fans to the ballpark is unparalleled.
There will be no postseason play for the Chivos in 2025, but I can tell without exaggerations that they have won the World Series in the heart of the fans. Personally, this was my best baseball year in the United States, and I have EVERY person involved with the Yard Goats family to thank for it.
