Twins pitcher Hector Santiago joins fellow players to help Puerto Rico

Chris Cwik
·Staff writer

Minnesota Twins pitcher hasn’t sat by idly while on the disabled list. As he has rehabbed from a back injury, Santiago has helped raised supplies for Puerto Rico while back home in New Jersey.

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Santiago spoke to Evan Doherty of Yahoo Sports about his efforts to help the people of Puerto Rico, and why it’s so important to other players around the league.

As Santiago explains, his relatives in Puerto Rico are safe, but others are still suffering after hurricanes have ravaged the country. While back in New Jersey, where he grew up, Santiago has been collecting supplies to send the Puerto Rico.

“We actually have a 40-foot container full of supplies: Rice, food, water. All the stuff that’s mainly needed,” he told Yahoo Sports. “I’m just going around town picking up stuff from family and friends, and friends of friends. Everybody wants to be a part of it. Everybody wants to help.”

Hector Santiago wants to help the people of Puerto Rico. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Hector Santiago wants to help the people of Puerto Rico. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Santiago is far from the only player helping out the country. He mentioned Houston Astros designated hitter Carlos Beltran, who donated $1 million to relief efforts, and St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, whose wife started a Go Fund Me to raise money.

Los Angeles Dodgers utility man Enrique Hernández also has a You Caring page to go toward helping Puerto Rico. As Santiago mentions, a number of players have created t-shirts to support the country as well. The Major League Baseball Players Trust donated a grant providing 1.5 million pounds of food, water and supplies to help those in need.

Santiago explained why so many Puerto Rican players have joined in the effort to try and help the country.

“The Puerto Rican players love their country so much,” he said. “Love their families that are there. We know how beautiful Puerto Rico can be, and we want to get it back to where it needs to be.”

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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik