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Playing in Puerto Rico is dream come true for Cleveland Indians SS Francisco Lindor

Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor is "super excited" to play in front of family and friends at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas
Puerto Rico shortstop Francisco Lindor hustles down the first-base line against the Colorado Rockies during a 2017 World Baseball Classic exhibition game at Salt River Fields.

CLEVELAND -- Despite Hurricane Maria ravaging much of Puerto Rico in the fall, the Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins will to play their scheduled two-game series in San Juan as planned today and tomorrow.

Rivals within the American League Central Division, the Indians and Twins joined San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz at a news conference in Puerto Rico in January to confirm they will play the two-game series at venerable Hiram Bithorn Stadium as planned, while also taking part in community events.

And that confirmation was music to the ears of shortstop Francisco Lindor, who is a native of Caguas, Puerto Rico and represented the country in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

“I’m super-excited,” Lindor told reporters prior to TribeFest 2018 back in January. “I can’t wait to play in front of my home crowd. It’s going to be a dream to play in Puerto Rico. I haven’t played in Puerto Rico in a long, long time.

“Playing in front of my family, friends and people that don’t have the chance to travel and see us play out here, it’s going to be something special, especially with what Puerto Rico’s been through the last couple months. It’s going to be something special.”

Puerto Rico has a proud heritage in the game of baseball, and especially within the Indians organization.

Indians Hall of Fame members Sandy Alomar Jr. and Carlos Baerga, All-Star second baseman Roberto Alomar, former infielder Joey Cora, outfielders Wil Cordero, Juan Gonzalez, Ricky Ledee and Candy Maldonado, pitchers Jose Santiago and Fernando Cabrera and utility man Von Hayes were natives of Puerto Rico.

Currently, the Indians have three natives of Puerto Rico on the roster, catcher Roberto Perez, infielder Willi Castro and a two-time American League All-Star in Lindor.

And Lindor is happy to serve as an inspiration for the next generation of baseball players in Puerto Rico.

“It’s a blessing,” Lindor said. “It’s a blessing whenever a kid comes up and says, ‘I want to be like you,’ or the mom or the grandma come up to you and say, ‘I want my grandkid or my son to be like you.’ It’s a blessing. It’s a humbling experience, and it’s something. You grow from that and you continue to your best so you can inspire others.”

Credit: David Richard
Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) throws to first base in the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field.

Lindor hopes he inspires others to overcome their obstacles and use their talents to better themselves and those around them.

“I want kids to understand that it’s possible, that their dreams can become a reality,” Lindor said. “All you’ve got to do is just work hard at it and try to be a good human being. Forget all that’s happening at the house. Just focus on whether it’s schoolwork or sports, focus on those things.

“Those are the most important things. What’s happening at the house is something that’s temporary, but if you graduate from college or get a good education or become a really good athlete, it’s something that could last for a very, very long time, a lot longer than the problems at the house.”

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