His name is Yohel Pozo. St. Louis Cardinals’ fans know him…more by the day.
This photo from yesterday is his winning-the-game stance, waiting for his teammates to rush him in celebration after he hit the winning single in the 11th inning to end the game. As usual, there’s much more to his story than that one moment.
Before this season, 27-year-old Pozo, a native of Venezuela, had played just 21 major league games with the Rangers back in 2021. Believe it or not, only a year earlier Pozo and his family found themselves homeless and living out of their car. Why? Besides being out of work due to the Minor League season being canceled due to the COVID pandemic, his young son had suffered a stroke when he was just a few months old, depleting the family’s finances.
How has Pozo managed to stay focused and deliver once-in-a-lifetime results, such as homering in his St. Louis debut back in April? Based on this quote, it appears it’s having a foundation of fundamentals skills that make him a clutch, reliable hitter in any situation.
That type of routine may sound drastic, even unnecessary. But its results have sustained Yozo and his family, who are reaping the long-awaited benefits.
He’s having fun. The fans are too. We all can thank dad and grandpa…and I suppose black beans.
Sources:
https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/news/yohel-pozo-homers-in-cardinals-debut
John Gregory 