Puerto Rico beat Colombia in WBC opener to silence roster controversy
Puerto Rico brushed aside pre-tournament controversy to defeat Colombia 5-0 in their World Baseball Classic Pool A opener at a vibrant Estadio Hiram Bithorn on Friday.
The hosts put weeks of administrative turmoil behind them to deliver a dominant performance in San Juan.
A capacity crowd of 18,793 had initially feared the absence of key stars would derail the campaign before a pitch was thrown.
However, the atmosphere transformed from resentment regarding insurance complications into a carnival of rhythmic percussion once play began.
Overcoming red tape
Notable absentees included Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa after insurance providers tightened regulations following the previous tournament.
Those stricter rules were influenced by the season-ending injury suffered by closer Edwin Díaz while celebrating a win over the Dominican Republic during the last iteration of the classic.
Despite threats from the local federation president José Quiles to withdraw the team entirely in January, the two-time runners-up proved they possess depth beyond their headline icons.
The frustration regarding the missing Major League Baseball talent dissipated as the Caribbean nation took control of the game.
Trusting the youth
Manager Yadier Molina insisted the squad remained focused on the field rather than the boardroom politics.
“We’re not going to bow our heads,” the Puerto Rico boss said.
“We trust our talent, we trust our pitching, we trust the defense. We’re going to score. We’re going to run the bases.”
The squad have continued the ‘Team Rubio’ tradition, bleaching their hair blond in a nod to the 2017 finalists.
While lacking some high-profile names, the group is heavy on young prospects seeking to establish a foothold at the sport’s highest level.
“We believe that these guys are ready for this event,” added Molina.
Chasing a historic title
Puerto Rico hold the second-most wins in the history of the competition but have yet to lift the trophy.
Having finished as runners-up in both 2013 and 2017, the team arrived in San Juan with a familiar objective.
Edwin Díaz, now with the Los Angeles Dodgers, compared the current hunger within the dressing room to previous successful campaigns.
“I compare this team to the team in 2017, which was the first tournament for many of us, and we were able to do big things,” said the closer.
“I believe that all of us, including myself, have the same hunger to win.”