La Makina Foundation envisions top-tier sports complex in Bayamón
- The San Juan Daily Star
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
By The Star Staff
A collaborative effort celebrating sports and community development materialized recently when Senate Vice President Carmelo Ríos Santiago and renowned Toronto Blue Jays pitcher José “La Makina” Berríos announced a strategic alliance to promote youth baseball in Bayamón.
The senator, who represents Bayamón, Cataño, Guaynabo, Toa Alta and Toa Baja, presented a $60,000 grant to the La Makina Foundation last week. The funds are intended to boost the development of young talent and provide them with the necessary tools to succeed both on the field and in their personal lives.
La Makina Foundation’s main mission is ambitious: to establish a top-tier sports complex in Puerto Rico. The facilities will not only serve as a vital space for training local prospects but will also offer a professional training area for Major League Baseball players during the off-season.
“In this first year of this new term, our focus has been on baseball, and with this allocation, we aim to enable our children and young people to develop skills that will allow them to obtain college scholarships, fulfill their dream of playing in Major League Baseball, and, most importantly, become disciplined and socially responsible citizens,” Ríos said during the presentation ceremony.
José Orlando Berríos, a native of Bayamón, is a prominent figure in professional baseball. Known by his nickname “La Makina,” he has forged an impressive career in the majors. Beyond his statistics, Berríos is recognized for his dedication to his native Puerto Rico, using his foundation to give back to the community that watched him grow and develop as an athlete and a person.
The collaboration between Ríos and an elite sports star like Berríos marks a significant milestone in promoting sports as a vehicle for social change and personal development in the Bayamón District, the senator noted.