Welcome to another season of Around the Nest, our offseason series where we highlight important, feel-good stories and events around Birdland regarding players, coaches and, most importantly, the community.
For those who follow Baltimore Orioles baseball, excitement has started building for players coming from the international market, a market the Orioles were out of until the regime led by president of baseball operations and acting GM Mike Elias took over in 2018.
The investment into the international side of the game has brought forth young prospect talent such as Samuel Basallo, Esteban Mejia and Luis De León, to name a few.
But it is not just the Orioles organization signing prospects from international markets but also trading for them as well, and one player who sticks out is 26-year-old infielder Luis Vázquez.
The Puerto Rican product is not a well known commodity in the majors, but Birdland was privy to witness a 36-game taste of the rookie utility player last season. With the ability to play first, second, short and third, Vázquez brings high energy with his presence and support of the team and his teammates alike.
Vázquez, was able to turn his short time in the majors with the Birds into a one-year contract for 2026, as he hopes to prolong his stay and career in pro ball.
From the small town of Orocovis, in the center of Puerto Rico, Vázquez is only the second player to reach the majors from that area, joining Rafael Santo Domingo, who was with the Cincinnati Reds for a brief period in 1979.
Vázquez, who was selected in the 14th round of the 2017 MLB Draft, quickly became the talk of the town, a small town that is home to around 20,000 residents.
Tomas Santiago, a native of Orocovis, who now resides in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, quickly started following Vázquez’s professional career.
“The whole town [of Orocovis], we’re a very small town, so everybody knows each other,” Santiago said. “So when Vázquez got drafted, that’s all you saw throughout social media. Family and friends all posted it.”
Vázquez would make his big league debut with the Chicago Cubs in 2024, playing 11 games and slashing .083/.143/.083/.226 during his brief call-up. Watching Vázquez, Santiago would hope that one day he would be able to meet his fellow countryman.
In January of this past year, the Orioles would acquire Vázquez in exchange for cash considerations as a depth piece. It wasn’t until a late call-up last season that would give Birdland a taste of the utility man’s energy and make his personality infectious to the team.
After clearing waivers and being re-assigned to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, Vázquez used a 43-game run to prove his value. He would slash .271/.343/.413 with five home runs, 23 RBIs and four stolen bases in that span.
Vázquez was called up on June 10 and made the most of his opportunities, including hitting his first big league home run on August 24, that helped propel the Orioles to a 3-2 victory over the Houston Astros.
Santiago knew it was time to meet his favorite player and received pre-game passes that would allow he and his family to meet Vázquez, who would hand out gift bags that had hats, a bobblehead and signed baseballs. He also gifted an autographed bat and a pair of batting gloves to the family.
“Listen, I got a little teary-eyed because I talk to my wife and my kids day and night, every time Vázquez gets a hit or when he’s on TV, that’s all I do,” Santiago said. “When you’re from Orocovis, you’re just proud of who you are and where you come from. And he made it. We are up in the mountains, so for one of us to make it, it means we all made it. This was super exciting.”
Recently holding a baseball clinic for 350 children in his home country of Puerto Rico, Vázquez hopes to inspire the next generation to follow and pursue their dreams of making it big, even if they come from a small town like Orocovis.
“I think it’s something I take a lot of pride in, in my career, not only playing for myself but knowing I can be a role model to kids as well,” Vázquez said. “I think it’s very special knowing that I can be an inspiration to them.”
With the Orioles’ resources in Puerto Rico and abroad, more players like Vázquez will have the chance to work with, help and mentor youth and future generations as they take their talents to new heights.
If a small town like Orocovis can produce big leaguers, it is proof that anyone can follow their dreams to a bigger and brighter tomorrow. Vázquez is just another piece that proves anything is possible.
What are your thoughts on Luis Vázquez and his journey? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, X, Bluesky and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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