Houston — Not every home run brings cheers. Last night, in the middle of what seemed like a normal press conference after the Houston Astros’ win, Yordan Alvarez suddenly burst into tears. His voice cracking, the Cuban superstar shared news that stunned the team and fans: his mother is battling a serious illness.
“She’s the reason I’m here, the one who always taught me to get up when I’m down,” Alvarez said, his eyes red as he struggled to stay calm. “But this time, I don’t know what to do other than pray. I just want to be with her.”
The room fell silent. Teammates bowed their heads, many leaving the room without saying a word. According to Astros insiders, Alvarez left Houston this morning to be with his mother in Cuba, temporarily withdrawing from the schedule indefinitely. The team confirmed that they “fully support this decision” and will “give Yordan all the support we can.”
“He was not just our player, he was our heart,” manager Joe Espada said. “No one can imagine the pain. All we can do is send our love and strength to the Alvarez family.”
Thousands of fans from everywhere – from Houston to Havana – sent prayers, using the hashtag #PrayForYordan. A photo of him hugging his mother during the 2022 championship celebration was shared tens of thousands of times, with the tearful caption: “Your swing brought us joy. Now it’s time to give back to you.”
Yordan Alvarez, 28, is considered one of the hardest and most consistent hitters in MLB. After leaving Cuba in 2016 to pursue his baseball dream, Alvarez has always credited his mother with “lighting the way.” In numerous interviews, Alvarez has said that every home run he hits “is a tribute to her.”
Now, with his mother struggling with illness, the entire baseball world has come to a standstill. Rival fans, including Rangers and Yankees fans, have sent their support. Several prominent players, including Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge and José Altuve, have left messages on Twitter expressing their deep sympathy.
It’s unclear when Alvarez will return to the field. But at the moment, that doesn’t matter. For him – and for all those who loved that genuine smile after each home run – the biggest game of their lives has begun.
And this time, the audience isn’t just the spectators. They are the faith, the prayers, the warmth that Yordan Alvarez will bring to his mother’s bedside…
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