MEXICO CITY, June 8 (EL UNIVERSAL).- On May 25, after a match in the Minor Leagues, Manuel “Manny” Bañuelos was thinking about what he would eat; however, he was called by the pitching coach to hear a phrase that would mark him: Pack up, they put you up.
Ten days later, Bañuelos reached the finish line of a journey that took 14 years to complete. The pitcher born on March 13, 1991, in Gómez Palacio, Durango, debuted with the Yankees. The dream had been fulfilled.
Bañuelos had already made his Major League debut with Atlanta in 2015, but the image of him in the striped uniform never came out of his head.
“In my debut with Atlanta in 2015 I was excited, with adrenaline, I had that, but with the Yankees I had mixed feelings, because at one point I thought about the whole journey and it was long, going to different places… My goal was to return to the Major Leagues with the Yankees,” Bañuelos said.
The worst moment in the career of “Manny” Bañuelos
Manny experienced his worst moment in 2014. The tricolor pitcher underwent Tommy John surgery, left the ninth New Yorker and at that moment the thoughts were the worst; however, he got over it. He came through the ranks of the Braves and White Sox, but he had to come back.
“I left this organization with a thorn in my side, because they said I didn’t meet expectations, what prevented it was the injury, but that was my goal,” he recalled in a conference.
In his debut against Detroit, Bañuelos pitched two innings, allowed a hit, eliminated an opponent, the Yankees won and the dream was fulfilled. Now the goal is to stay.
“Being part of the team this year is something great, I feel very lucky, I want to contribute to the team that with God’s favor we will be playing in October,” said the 31-year-old pitcher.
“Manny” Bañuelos dreams of pitching in a World Series
While Manny struggled to return to New York, Julio Urías continued to conquer feats and excel with the Dodgers.
That October night where Culichi won the World Series, it was etched in the heads of Dodgers and Bañuelos fans.
The native of Durango has seen the video of that moment repeatedly, the reason? He dreams of achieving something similar.
“I long for it, I dream of it (to live a World Series). We all recognize his level of (Julio Urías), many times I saw the video, how he got the last out, how he celebrated, may God grant that to me as well.”
The journey until October is long, but his present and that of the Yankees keep him dreaming.
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