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Nolan Arenado celebrated in 2017 at Dodger Stadium, winning the World Baseball Classic while playing for Team USA.
Nine years later, the experience he had on Saturday at Hiram Bithorn Stadium with Puerto Rico’s dramatic extra-innings 4-3 victory over Panama in front of over 18,000 fans, may have surpassed even that championship feeling.
Arenado, 34, and with a mother originally from Guayama, said on Monday he was amazed by the reaction of the Puerto Rican fanbase following Darell Hernáiz’s game-winning home run.
The celebration was electric both on the field with the Puerto Rican players and in the stands, where fans passionately sang “Preciosa” at the top of their lungs.
“For me, Saturday was something that opened my eyes,” Arenado stated in a press conference before Puerto Rico’s game against Cuba.
“Seeing the country united and seeing the passion and the love. The game had ended, and there were still so many people there from the first pitch. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It means a lot,” he added.
Arenado, who is still looking for his first hit in two games, drove in Puerto Rico’s first run of the game with a sacrifice fly when the team was trailing 2-1.
“The style of baseball played here is about winning, and I wish more teams, and I wish the game was more like this, that feeling that the only thing that matters is whether you contribute to the victory, because that’s how you get the best out of people, and that’s how everyone gets involved. I didn’t get a hit. I just got a sacrifice fly and the way they treated me was like I had hit a walk-off home run. It’s incredible what they do here,” he added.
Arenado was also in the 2023 Classic final with the United States, where they lost to Japan in Miami.
Saturday’s game confirmed for the third baseman that he made the right decision.
“Obviously, I’ve played some important games in this tournament, and it’s gotten very loud. There’s something different about doing it here and seeing the joy and the chants afterward. It’s hard to explain and put into words the feeling they have. It’s something you don’t see. I’m very grateful to be here. I’m glad I made that decision. Saturday, for me, I just saw the joy; I came here for that. All the guys warned me it would be like that, but it exceeded my expectations ” he concluded.
Puerto Rico was looking on Monday to secure a spot in the quarterfinals against Cuba.
