In Houston, Yordan Álvarez is a symbol of strength and home runs that fly hundreds of feet. But in his hometown of Las Tunas, Cuba — he is no longer an MLB star. He returned as a son, quietly walking through the old red dirt road to plant a new “season of hope”.
After many years abroad, Álvarez has just officially inaugurated “La Granja de la Esperanza” (Farm of Hope) — a community farm he funded and operated, providing free food for the poor and children in the countryside where he was born.
In a simple ceremony, without international reporters, without flashbulbs, Álvarez wore a white shirt and smiled when he saw the first rows of young vegetables growing.
“When I was a child, I used to walk for kilometers just to find some food for my family,” he told the local press.
“I promised my mother: if I succeed one day, I will not let anyone in the village go hungry.”
That promise has now come true. “Hope Farm” is located on a land area of nearly 20 hectares, bought by Yordan Álvarez with his own money, and organized into a sustainable agricultural model. Each season, tons of vegetables, fruits and grains from here will be distributed free of charge to schools, hospitals and poor families in the area.
In particular, Álvarez also employs dozens of local people to participate in operating the farm, helping to create stable jobs for unemployed youth.
“He not only brings food, but also brings confidence,”said a Las Tunas resident.
“We used to only hear Yordan’s name on TV, now he’s standing among us, working, planting, smiling and asking after each child.”
The image of Álvarez himself holding a hoe, sowing seeds with the children on a sunny morning has caused a stir on Cuban social media. Thousands of comments called him “the pride of Las Tunas,” “a hero not only on the field.”
Once a symbol of strength for the Houston Astros, Yordan Álvarez is known for his fiery batting. But inside the 27-year-old, memories of a childhood of deprivation, when meals consisted of only white rice and a few slices of banana, remain.
“I know what it feels like to go hungry. And I will never forget that,”
he said, looking at the growing rows of corn.
The farm not only grows rice and vegetables, but also has a livestock area, a fruit garden, and a small playground for local children. On the large sign in front of the gate, the words are hand-carved:
“No one is left behind.”
Yordan Álvarez has had it all: championship titles, glory, recognition. But in the hearts of Cubans, he has just done something even bigger — giving back to his homeland through concrete actions and kindness.
A Cuban sports reporter wrote:
“People will remember Yordan for his home runs, but it was ‘Farm of Hope’ that was the most beautiful hit of his life.”
Álvarez asserts that this is just the beginning. He plans to expand the model to many other regions of Cuba in the next 5 years, turning ‘Farm of Hope’ into a network of agricultural support and education for poor children.
“I don’t want to leave behind just records. I want to leave behind something that feeds people,”
he said, then chuckled:
“Like seeds – when planted in the right place, they will bloom forever.”
Leave a Reply