Aledmys Diaz of the Oakland A’s gives thanks to the Almighty after clubbing a fifth inning home run against the San Francisco Giants at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Aug 5, 2023. Diaz is one of many players in the A’s system from Latin America (AP News file photo)

Atléticos turn to Latin America for their Future —

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The Oakland A’s have signed these international players. Nathan Arends, RHP Aruba, Yohandri Contreras, RHP, Venezuela, Brayan Cota, 3B,México, Samuel González, SS, Venezuela, Celso Lopez, RHP, Venezuela, Eric Matos RHP, Cuba, Hugo Merza Trejo, RHP, México, Edgar Moreno, SS, Dominican Republic, Azzael Pacheco, C, Venezuela, José Parra, LHP, Venezuela, Alejando Pereira, C, Venezuela, Luis Plicet, RHP, Panamá, José Ramos, OF, Venezuela, Sebastián Rojas, OF, Venezuela, Oliver Sirotti Vásquez, RHP, Dominican Republic, Franco Zabaleta, LHP, Colombia.

The 2024 roster: Aledmys Díaz, Cuba, Jordan Díaz, Colombia, Esteury Ruíz, Dominican Republic, Angel Felipez, Dominican Republic, Dany Jiménez, Dominican Republic, Adriían Martínez, México, Francisco Pérez, Dominican Republic, Darell Hernaiz, Puerto Rico, Lázaro Armenteros, Cuba, Miguel Andujar, Dominican Republic, Royber Salinas, Venezuela, Luis Medina, Dominican Republic. With the season beginning March 28, more Latinos could still be signing with the Oakland A’s.

Throughout their history, among the Atléticos Latino players were; Yoenis Céspedes, José Canseco, Ozzie Canseco, Dagoberto Blanco Campaneris, José Mangual, Angel Mangual, Miguel Tejada, Stan Javier, Jesó Alou, Joaquin Andujar and many others. Currently, 32% of all major league players were born in Latin America; the percentage is more significant in the minor leagues.

The Hispanic/Latino baseball market continues to grow, as 63.7 million is listed as the United States Hispanic population as of July 1, 2022, making it the nation’s most significant racial or ethnic minority — 19.1% of the total. Population. The largest minority consumer and voting block in the United States of America. In some areas in the US, Hispanic media enjoys higher ratings than traditional “all other” media.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com