[ESP/ENG] Mi mejor pelotero. Crónica / My Best Ballplayer: A Chronicle
Hablar de Luis Antonio es hablar de béisbol, pero también de familia. Es mi mejor pelotero, mi deportista favorito, y no lo digo solo por el parentesco, sino porque he visto su entrega. En el terreno, su técnica es toda precisión. Su bateo no es solo fuerza; es inteligencia.
Sabe leer al lanzador, espera su pitcheo y, cuando la bola viaja, su swing es compacto y explosivo, capaz de romper el cerco defensivo y encender la esperanza en las gradas. Su capacidad para conectar en momentos clave es su don más preciado. En los momentos decisivos, Luis Antonio tiene algo que no se entrena: oportunidad. No le teme a la presión; la abraza.
Cuando el juego está empatado y hay corredores en posición anotadora, todos saben que Luis Antonio es el hombre. En las dos series que ha jugado ha sido el pelotero que más veces ha impulsado la carrera del empate o la victoria para su equipo. Su oportunidad para darle la victoria a su equipo no es una simple posibilidad; es una certeza que nace de su talento y de su temple.
Sin embargo, lo que hace grande a un atleta no es solo lo que hace con el guante o el bate. Es lo que hace fuera del terreno. Y ahí, Luis Antonio es aún más grandioso.
Es un buen hijo, de esos que cuidan a sus padres con una devoción silenciosa. Es un gran hermano, el ejemplo a seguir que protege, aconseja y celebra los logros de su hermano, a pesar de ser menor que él.
Para mí, es un excelente sobrino, un joven que siempre tiene una palabra de aliento, un gesto de cariño y un respeto que conmueve. Pero, sobre todo, Luis Antonio es una buena persona. Su humildad es su mejor uniforme. No se deja cegar por los reflectores; sigue siendo el mismo muchacho sencillo que juega por amor al deporte y por orgullo de su tierra.
En las reuniones familiares, Luis Antonio es alegría pura. Su capacidad para hacer reír, para contar historias de vida que todos reconocen, para convertir recuerdos en fiesta, es un don que pocos poseen. Él no solo juega béisbol: él juega con la vida, la celebra, la comparte.
Cuando hoy la Serie 65 comience, no solo veré a un pelotero en acción. Veré al niño que creció soñando con jugar al béisbol, al joven que se ha formado con sacrificio y al hombre que representa los valores más puros del deporte. Cada vez que conecte un imparable, cada vez que empuje una carrera, no solo anotará para su equipo, anotará para su familia, para su barrio, para todos los que creemos en él.
La victoria, al final, es un concepto relativo. Ganar un juego es efímero. Pero la victoria de ser un buen hijo, un gran hermano, un excelente sobrino y una buena persona, eso es eterno. Y Luis Antonio ya ha ganado ese partido.
El otro, el del diamante, solo será la guinda del pastel. Estoy seguro de que, con su bate y su corazón, dará muchas victorias a su equipo. Pero para mí, ya es un campeón. Que empiece la Serie 65. Que empiece el espectáculo. Y que brille, como solo él sabe hacerlo, mi sobrino, mi orgullo, mi mejor pelotero Luis Antonio Pérez Hemminges.
Nota: He utilizado el traductor DeepL Translate.
Las imágenes son de mi propiedad.
ENGLISH
Today marks the start of the National Baseball Series—the country's most important sporting event—and the passion for the game is reignited. In this 65th edition, the stadium will witness thousands of stories, but for me, only one will truly shine: that of my nephew, Luis Antonio Pérez Hemminges.
To speak of Luis Antonio is to speak of baseball, but also of family. He is my best ballplayer, my favorite athlete—and I say this not just because we are related, but because I have witnessed his dedication. On the field, his technique is all about precision. His hitting isn't just about power; it’s about intelligence.
He knows how to read the pitcher and wait for the right pitch; when the ball comes his way, his swing is compact and explosive—capable of breaking through the defense and igniting hope in the stands. His ability to deliver a hit in key moments is his most prized gift. In decisive situations, Luis Antonio possesses something that cannot be coached: a knack for the big moment. He doesn't fear pressure; he embraces it.
When the game is tied and there are runners in scoring position, everyone knows Luis Antonio is the man for the job. Across the two series he has played, he is the player who has most frequently driven in the tying or winning run for his team. His ability to clinch a victory for his squad is not merely a possibility; it is a certainty born of his talent and his composure.
However, what makes an athlete truly great isn't just what they do with a glove or a bat; it’s what they do off the field. And in that regard, Luis Antonio is even greater.
He is a devoted son—the kind who cares for his parents with quiet dedication. He is a wonderful brother—a role model who protects, advises, and celebrates his brother’s achievements, even though he is the younger of the two.
To me, he is an excellent nephew—a young man who always offers words of encouragement, affectionate gestures, and a deeply moving sense of respect. But above all, Luis Antonio is a good person. Humility is his finest uniform. He doesn't let the spotlight blind him; he remains the same down-to-earth young man who plays for the love of the sport and out of pride for his homeland.
At family gatherings, Luis Antonio is pure joy. His ability to make people laugh, to share relatable life stories, and to turn memories into a celebration is a rare gift. He doesn't just play baseball; he plays with life itself—celebrating it and sharing it with others. When the 65th Series begins today, I won't just see a ballplayer in action. I will see the child who grew up dreaming of playing baseball, the young man who forged himself through sacrifice, and the man who embodies the sport's purest values. Every time he gets a hit, every time he drives in a run, he won't just be scoring for his team; he’ll be scoring for his family, for his neighborhood, and for all of us who believe in him.
Victory, ultimately, is a relative concept. Winning a game is fleeting. But the victory of being a good son, a great brother, an excellent nephew, and a good person—that is eternal. And Luis Antonio has already won that game.
The other kind of victory—the one on the diamond—will simply be the icing on the cake. I am certain that, with his bat and his heart, he will bring many wins to his team. But to me, he is already a champion. Let the 65th Series begin. Let the show start. And may he shine—as only he knows how—my nephew, my pride, my greatest ballplayer: Luis Antonio Pérez Hemminges.
Note: I used DeepL Translate.
The images are my own.