MADISON – A Jugar con la Pelota!
Today may be Cinco de Mayo, but Sunday the Lunaticos de Rocket City come to town.
The Rocket City Trash Pandas, aka Lunaticos, will debut their Hispanic-inspired identity with a 2:35 p.m. matchup against the Tennessee Smokies in a fiesta at Toyota Field.
Through Minor League Baseball’s “Copa de la Diversión” (“Fun Cup”), the Trash Pandas will sport uniforms with the new identity. The Lunaticos will take the field two more times this season: June 25 at 4:05 p.m. vs. Montgomery and Aug. 27 at 4:05 p.m. vs. Birmingham.
The Lunaticos moniker was unveiled in March and represents North Alabama’s growing and diverse community, allowing everyone to show off their wild side at Toyota Field, the team said.
“I think it’s pretty cool to wear those uniforms. Especially us as Hispanics, we’re really embracing it,” Trash Pandas pitcher Victor Mederos said. “It’s going to bring a great crowd, a different type of crowd and different atmosphere with a lot of energy.
“It’s going to be a fun day.”
The Trash Pandas are the only professional sports team in the state with an alternate identity playing homage to its local Hispanic community, the team said. Rocket City has hosted Hispanic Heritage night at Toyota Field in each of the first two seasons in team history and will do so again later this season.
“It’s fitting. It’s cool how there are so many types of people that enjoy this game,” Mederos said. “Some of the guys out here barely know English but we all share the same love for the game.
“It’s pretty cool how no matter where you come from, once you step out on to the field, we’re all the same.”
Lunaticos merchandise – caps, jerseys and T-shirts – is available at the Junkyard team store at Toyota Field and the Trash Pandas Emporium at Bridge Street.
The current Rocket City roster features eight players born in Latin countries: Infielders Jose Gomez, Kevin Maitan, and Livan Soto were all born in Venezuela; Mederos, catcher Edgar Quero, and outfielder Orlando Martinez were born in Cuba; and pitchers Ivan Armstrong and José Soriano were born in the Dominican Republic. Five former Trash Pandas with Latin heritage reached the Major Leagues between 2021-22, all making their MLB debut with the Los Angeles Angels.
Sunday’s game will feature a “Fiesta in the Outfield” before, during, and after the Lunaticos battle their North Division rivals.
D.J. Raffi Torres will be performing and food trucks from Nacho’s Mexican Food and El Palomino will be serving Mexican specialties. Margaritas will be served at the Inline Electric Rock Porch, Pub Madison, and The Bullpen Bar.
Traditional Hispanic dishes will be available at The Bullpen Bar and fans will be able to get their faces painted at the Toyota Outfield Experience, the team said.
For tickets, click here.
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