MLB had two broadcasts for the game between the Philadelphia Phillies hosted the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday (October 16). One was their standard broadcast on TBS. The other was a truTV and Max stream of Postseason ALTcast: Peloteros.
Peloteros features “cultural conversations centered on the National League Championship Series (NLCS) and the game of baseball as told through diverse voices and representation within the Hispanic community.” This means that there will be a star lineup from our community featured in Peloteros.
Just this October 16, sportscaster Alanna Rizzo led the panel along with former players Pedro Martínez, Albert Pujols, Yonder Alonso, and current players Néstor Cortés and Kiké Hernández. Iván Rodríguez will replace Hernández for the next game.
Major League Baseball has led all major American sports in diversity for many years, with 40.34% of overall rosters coming from diverse backgrounds. And 30.2% of all MLB rosters feature Latine players. That’s why a commentary segment like Peloteros is so important. It doesn’t feel like a novelty.
The pride these players have in their home backgrounds and countries is important as well like this clip with former Cuban MLB player Yonder Alonso showing off his stylish jacket which also represents his heritage.
The broadcast doesn’t just touch on representation, which is important enough, but also baseball history.
Latine players have displayed their talent for decades, but their agency as storytellers and wealth of knowledge have been largely underused in broadcasting. For example, Pedro Martínez is one of the best pitchers in baseball history, and this story about his confidence and not being afraid to face anybody (besides Yankee legend Derek Jeter) is fun and exciting.
For those wondering about how it integrates with an important playoff game, watch the clip below. The excitement of the players on the panel along with their commentary about the momentum shift is a shining example of how a Latine broadcast can add a glowing context to a big game.
Peloteros will continue throughout the NLCS (a best-of-seven series) and hopefully make a return for the World Series.