What’s better than celebrating a LatinoMVP award winner at his home team’s ballpark? Celebrating and honoring two LatinoMVP award recipients from the very same team all in one day at their home ballpark!
That was the case at hand on Thursday afternoon as Cincinnati Reds’ superstar shortstop Elly De La Cruz, and flamethrowing closer Alexis Díaz, both received their respective 2023 LatinoMVP awards from Latino Sports founder and president Julio Pabón prior to the Braves-Reds series finale at Great American Ball Park.
Congratulations to Elly De La Cruz and Alexis Díaz on being honored as the 2023 NL LatinoMVP Rookie of the Year and NL LatinoMVP Reliever/Closer of the Year! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/gBgHMUbivz
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) September 19, 2024
The LatinoMVP awards are the oldest and most prestigious awards given to Latin MLB athletes, starting back in 1990, with the goal to promote and recognize the stellar on-and-off field performances made by Latinos that may/do get overlooked. The true value and appreciation for the LatinoMVP continues to grow immensely year-on-year with several former and active players/coaches deeming the awards, a Latin Grammy of Baseball and the top achievements of their career.
Both selected and voted by members of the Latino Sports Writers and Broadcasters Association (LSWBA), De La Cruz was named the winner of the 2023 National League LatinoMVP Rookie of the Year, while Díaz earned the honors of the 2023 National League LatinoMVP Reliever of the Year award — just one year after, his older brother, Edwin Díaz of the New York Mets, achieved the same career feat as the 2022 NL LatinoMVP Reliever of the Year.
Elly De La Cruz cracks jokes with Alexis Díaz and Latino Sports founder and president Julio Pabón during their LatinoMVP award ceremony at Great American Ball Park – Image Credit: Cincinnati Reds/MLB
Each award for Elly and Alexis (as well as Edwin) was created by Maz Adams, one of our exclusive LatinoMVP artist’s who completes a special artistic rendition of each of the following award recipients: AL/NL LatinoMVP Pitcher of the Year, AL/NL LatinoMVP Reliever of the Year, and AL/NL LatinoMVP Rookie of the Year.
You can check out more of Maz’s immaculate artwork at @mazadamsart on Instagram.
2023 LatinoMVP Campaigns from Elly and Alexis
De La Cruz, 22, of Sabana Grande de Boya, Dominican Republic took the game by storm upon making his MLB debut last season, becoming one of the most electrifying players in the sport. His dynamic versatility on the diamond and charismatic personality off it, along with 13 home runs and 35 stolen bases, made him deserving of the 2023 NL LatinoMVP Rookie of the Year.
“I feel very grateful indeed that we are taken into account. And don’t you see, I’m not going to stop there, we’re going to go further to continue doing things like this.” -Elly De La Cruz, 2023 NL LatinoMVP Rookie of the Year
Elly De La Cruz receives his special 2023 NL LatinoMVP Rookie of the Year award on Thursday afternoon by Latino Sports founder and president Julio Pabón – Image Credit: Cincinnati Reds/MLB
For Díaz, the 27-year-old Naguabo, Puerto Rico native represented his homeland of Puerto Rico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic before the MLB regular season started and followed it by appearing in his first All-Star game of his career. The 2023 NL LatinoMVP Reliever of the Year recorded a 3.07 ERA in his award winning campaign, with 86 strikeouts, which ranked fourth in the NL among relievers and completed 37 saves (third in NL).
“I feel super happy and grateful to the people and to God who helped me do the great job to be able to win this award.” -Alexis Díaz, 2023 NL LatinoMVP Reliever of the Year
Latino Sports founder and president Julio Pabón greets Alexis Díaz on Thursday afternoon at Great American Ball Park – Image Credit: Cincinnati Reds/MLB
2023 LatinoMVP Award Winners
American League LatinoMVP
Julio Rodríguez – Seattle Mariners
National League LatinoMVP
Ronald Acuña Jr. – Atlanta Braves
American League LatinoMVP Starting Pitcher
Luis Castillo – Seattle Mariners
National League LatinoMVP Starting Pitcher
Jesús Luzardo – Miami Marlins
American League LatinoMVP Reliever/Closer
Félix Bautista – Baltimore Orioles
National League LatinoMVP Reliever/Closer
Alexis Díaz – Cincinnati Reds
American League LatinoMVP Rookie of the Year
Yainer Díaz – Houston Astros
National League LatinoMVP Rookie of the Year
Elly De La Cruz – Cincinnati Reds
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Julio
September 20, 2024 at 7:03 am
Excellent coverage of an award that has become one of the most prestigious awards given to Latino players in MLB.