Image Credit: Caleb Vasquez Jr./Latino Sports
BRONX, NY — September 9, 2026 — September is recognized nationwide as Hispanic Heritage Month. Although the official observance runs from September 15 through October 15, the contributions of the Latin community deserve recognition throughout the year.
The New York Yankees celebrated in grand style by designating September 9 as its fourth annual “Hispanic Heritage Media Day.” The event recognized Latino players, Latin culture and the Spanish-language media that has long connected baseball with the Latin community.
The day included exclusive interviews with Spanish-speaking Yankees players and a compelling roundtable featuring Yankees legend and Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera of Panama and Puerto Rican reliever Fernando Cruz. The discussion was hosted by the Yankees’ Spanish-language radio voice, Rickie Ricardo.
Mariano Rivera, Rickey Ricardo and Nelson Cruz following a roundtable discussion on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium as part of the Yankees’ fourth annual Hispanic Heritage Media Day – Image Credit: Caleb Vasquez Jr./Latino Sports
Rivera reflected on his legendary career, while Cruz discussed his remarkable 15-year journey to the Major Leagues, reaching the big leagues at age 32. His story was a powerful example of perseverance and determination.
Ricardo guided a wide-ranging conversation about their paths to baseball, their rise to the Majors, changes in the sport and its future.
They also addressed upcoming negotiations between players and owners, including the possibility of a salary cap and a work stoppage.
The greatest closer of all time Mariano Rivera who holds the record for most LatinoMVP Awards won by a reliever and Latino Sports founder and president Julio Pabón on Wednesday during the Yankees’ fourth annual Hispanic Heritage Media Day – Image Credit: Maria Santos/Latino Sports
The Yankees also showed their appreciation for the Latin press by hosting a catered luncheon through Legends Hospitality, featuring Caribbean cuisine prepared by chef Carlos Monegro.
We commend the Yankees for embracing Hispanic Heritage Month and continuing to engage the Latin community. As Latino Sports, we also take pride in knowing that some of the initiatives being celebrated today have roots in work we began more than three decades ago.
Over the last four years for Hispanic Heritage Media Day at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees have held press conferences for the Latin press and media with general manager Brian Cashman, manager Aaron Boone, RHP Gerrit Cole, LHP Max Fried, LHP Carlos Rodón, among many others – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Our relationship with the Yankees dates back to 1990, when Latino Sports created the LatinoMVP Award after Puerto Rican star Rubén Sierra was overlooked for the 1989 American League MVP Award.
Sierra had an outstanding season with the Texas Rangers, batting .306 with 194 hits, 35 doubles, 14 triples, 29 home runs and 119 RBIs. Rather than simply protest the omission, Latino Sports created an award to recognize Latino players whose accomplishments deserved special attention.
Destiny chose Yankee Stadium as the place to make history.
The first ever LatinoMVP Award presentation in April of 1990 for Texas Rangers outfielder Rubén Sierra during a series at the old Yankee Stadium – Image Credit: Latino Sports Archives
In 1990, Sierra became the first recipient of the LatinoMVP Award, receiving the honor during a pregame ceremony at Yankee Stadium.
It was a significant moment—the first LatinoMVP presentation and the first occasion when the Yankees opened their field to honor an active player from another Major League team. That ceremony connected Latino Sports, Rubén Sierra and Yankee Stadium in a unique piece of baseball history.
Latino Sports Helped Open the Door
For more than three decades, Latino Sports has worked to build bridges among Major League Baseball, its teams, Latino players and Latin media. We began this work at a time when the Latin community was becoming increasingly important to baseball, while the industry’s outreach had not yet caught up.
We are especially proud that the Yankees’ season-ending monthly Spanish-language press conferences, a tradition lasting more than two decades, were initially established with assistance from Latino Sports.
Yankees’ Spanish interpreter and Media Relations coordinator Marlon Abreu did a stellar job Wednesday in hosting and assisting the Latin media and press for the fourth annual Hispanic Heritage Media Day in the Bronx – Image Credit: Maz Adams/Latino Sports
At the time, the Yankees needed help reaching the rapidly growing Latin community.
Today, the Yankees dedicate an entire day to Latino players and Spanish-language media. That progress reflects a history of collaboration, and we are proud to have played a small but meaningful role in helping create that path.
History Comes Full Circle
On Hispanic Heritage Media Day in the Bronx, Latino Sports presented the 2025 American League LatinoMVP Rookie of the Year Award to Jasson Domínguez and the 2025 American League LatinoMVP Starting Pitcher Award to Carlos Rodón.
Thirty-six years after creating the LatinoMVP Award and presenting its first honor at Yankee Stadium, we again were in Yankee Stadium Wednesday night to recognize two more outstanding players.
Latino Sports went two for two Wednesday night in the Bronx by presenting Jasson Domínguez and Carlos Rodón with their respective LatinoMVP Awards won from the 2025 MLB season – Image Credit: Joel Rodriguez/Latino Sports
For us, that is more than coincidence. It is history coming full circle.
What began in 1990 as an effort to ensure that Latino players received the recognition they deserved has grown into an annual tradition celebrating Latino excellence in Major League Baseball.
We congratulate the Yankees for celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in grand style. We also proudly remember that Latino Sports was there at the beginning of this journey.
From 36 years ago across the street at the old Yankee Stadium to the new one that opened in 2009 to now in 2026, Latino Sports has remained making history throughout each year by those recognizing those who are more than deserving – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
From Rubén Sierra and the birth of the LatinoMVP Award at Yankee Stadium in 1990 to Jasson Domínguez and Carlos Rodón receiving their awards in 2026, the story continues.
The Bronx is where the LatinoMVP Award was born. It is fitting that its history continues to be written there.
Follow us on Social Media for updates and exclusive content
Instagram: @latinosportsoficial
Twitter: @latinosports
TikTok: @latino.sports
Facebook: Latino Sports
