HOUSTON – On the bright night of the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards 2025, when Mauricio Dubón’s name was announced, the entire audience stood up and applauded. But amid the flashbulbs and cheers, what moved fans the most did not come from the stage – but from a short, gentle, and tearful message from his wife, Nancy Herrera-Dubón:
“My knight did it. I still remember the nights you came home late, your hands bleeding from practice, your eyes tired but still saying ‘I’m fine’. Today, I just want to say: You deserve it all. Not just the gold glove, but the golden heart you have for your family.”
The message immediately went viral on social media, shared by tens of thousands of people within a few hours. For Houston Astros fans, this was more than just a player’s victory – it was a victory of love, of perseverance, of unwavering faith.
Mauricio Dubón, a young man from Honduras, once had only a tattered glove and a vague dream of MLB. He came to the United States as a teenager, unable to speak English, with no money, only a strong belief in baseball. And throughout that arduous journey, Nancy was the one who stood by him – from the days when she worked two jobs to make ends meet, to when he was sent down to the minor leagues.
Last night, as Dubón lifted his first Gold Glove, he couldn’t hold back his tears. He said in a recent interview:
“Every time I go out there, I think about Nancy and my son. They’re the reason I never give up.”
Dubón has been in great form for the Houston Astros in the 2025 season. He has a near-perfect fielding percentage (.993), 14 Defensive Runs Saved, and a versatile presence in the infield and outfield. To the pundits, he is one of the most versatile and consistent defensive players in MLB—but to his family, he is simply “the unsung hero.”
Last year, as Dubón struggled to maintain consistency and critics questioned his role in Houston’s lineup, she never let him forget who she was. “Every time he came home from a tough game,” a close friend shared, “she reminded him—‘You belong here. You were born to do this.’”
And now, as Dubón has won his first Gold Glove, the award given to baseball’s best defensive players, that unwavering belief has finally been proven.
Astros fans flooded social media with words of admiration and love, not only for Dubón’s outstanding defensive talent, but also for the touching story behind it. “That’s what baseball is all about,” one fan wrote. “Family, perseverance, and heart. Mauricio Dubón plays the ball the right way.”
Even Astros manager Joe Espada commented: “Dubón never asked for credit. He just worked — day in and day out, quietly. He earned every inch of this award.”
Dubón became emotional when asked about his wife’s message in a postgame interview. His voice choked up as he smiled through tears:
“She believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.
Every time I pitched, I played for her — for my family, for Honduras, for all the people who gave me a chance.
“This Gold Glove is not just mine. It belongs to all of us.”
As the lights dimmed and the celebrations continued, the moment served as a quiet reminder that even in a world of multi-million dollar contracts and frenetic stadiums, the truest victories begin at home — in the hearts of those who never stop believing.
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