THROWN INTO THE FIRE

I play ball all the time as a kid, but in a place as remote as Puerto Caimito, it's much more likely to be a pickup game on the shore than anything organized. At thirteen I begin to travel around Panama as a member of our provincial team. I am a good local player, but it's not as if people are touting me as the next Rod Carew or Rennie Stennett. When I reach eighteen, I am invited to play with the Panama Oeste Vaqueros (Cowboys) in Panama's top adult league. I play whatever position the Cowboys want me to play. My favorite position is the outfield, because I love running down fly balls. I am stationed in right field for an important playoff game. We have our best starter on the mound, but today they are all over him, smacking hits from here to the Canal. The manager comes out to the mound, looks around for a moment, and then motions to me in right field.