Bad Bunny is Puerto Rican. And if you’re Puerto Rican, an affinity for baseball is no surprise. Even so, listening to the singer’s new album “Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana” made for a fun who’s who of sports personalities, particularly MLB players. Because yes, Bad Bunny didn’t just mention one or two MLB players past and present, he mentioned 9 – 6 Latinos among them.
Since not everyone’s a baseball fan, let’s go through the names Bad Bunny mentions in his album, especially the ones from our communities, who they are, where they play, and why they’re important. The ones not from our communities he throws out there are Bryce Harper, who currently plays for the Philadelphia Phillies, Mike Trout who currently plays for the Los Angeles Angeles, and Reggie Jackson, a Hall of Famer famously known as Mr. October who played for five teams, but perhaps is better known for playing for the New York Yankees.
As for the Latinos, here’s who they are, where they play, and when they were mentioned.
1
Randy Arozarena
Tampa Bay Ray’s left fielder Randy Arozarena gets a mention during the song “Nadie Sabe.” And quite a mention it is, with the lyrics saying “Yo mismo me impresiono, como Randy Arozarena.” The 28-year-old player, who is Cuban and Mexican, took to Instagram to thank Bad Bunny for the shout-out.
2
Albert Pujols
Retired St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, from the Dominican Republic, gets a mention in the song “ACHO PR.” It’s no big surprise, considering Pujols is one of the biggest MLB baseball players from the Caribbean. The lyrics aren’t much, as they are literally his name alongside Roberto Clemente, but you could do worse than be mentioned next to such a legend.
3
Edwin Diaz
The New York Mets’ Puerto Rican closer Edwin Diaz, nicknamed “Sugar,” got a couple of shout-outs from Bad Bunny. The first one is on the song “Nadie Sabe.” In it, Bad Bunny sings, “Si Sugar ‘tá en la loma, tú te baja’ en la novena,” a reference to how quickly he can get you out. And the second one on the song “ACHO PR” he says, “Maradona and Messi in soccer, but I’m the new star, the contracts like Sugar and Lindor,” which talks about the big contract he got from the Mets.
4
Manny Ramirez
Another retired player, Dominican Manny Ramirez, who played left field for the Boston Red Sox, gets quite the mention in the song “TELEFONO NUEVO.” The lyrics “Manny Ramírez, La saco del parque y despué’ la cacho to’as en los fields” are a reference to the fact that he couldn’t just hit, he was a damn good fielder as well.
5
Francisco Lindor
There’s plenty of love for the New York Mets in Bad Bunny’s new album, as the team’s Puerto Rican shortstop, Francisco Lindor, also gets a mention in the song “ACHO PR” alongside teammate Edwin Diaz, with the lyrics “Maradona and Messi in soccer, but I’m the new star, the contracts like Sugar and Lindor.” This is, once again, about money – in a good way, as Bad Bunny is commenting on the contracts Lindor and Sugar got.
6
Roberto Clemente
Perhaps one of the best-known Latino players of all time, Puerto Rican Roberto Clemente couldn’t not get a mention in Bad Bunny’s “Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana.” As previously mentioned, he’s featured in the song “ACHO PR” alongside Albert Pujols, and though the lyrics are just literally “Roberto Clemente, Albert Pujol,” the Pittsburg Pirates right fielder is, perhaps, the most important player on this list.
Without him, the rest of them might not be where they are – and Bad Bunny might not be the fan he is. That means something. No, that means everything.