This Sunday, March 13, the New York Yankees announced, through their social networks, that Colombian baseball player Giovanny Urshela was included along with Dominican receiver Gary Sanchez in an exchange with the Minnesota Twins. After Urshela's departure, after three seasons, Colombia will have no representatives in this squad.
“The New York Yankees announced today that they acquired INF Josh Donaldson, INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa and C Ben Rortvedt of the Minnesota Twins in exchange for C Gary Sanchez and INF Gio Urshela,” the Yankees posted on their Twitter account.
On the other hand, according to comments from people close to the athlete, the news was so shocking that it surprised his entire circle, including Urshela himself. Well, the Colombian thought he would continue for another season in the New York team, although, after this announcement, he made it clear that he is looking forward to this new stage.
“I want to take this time for all the big Yankees fans who made my time just great. I especially want to thank the guys in the Bronx with whom I had a very special relationship. I'm going to miss you so much. I'm really excited to play shortstop here. I'm a little late at night but excited about this new opportunity. Really happy to be here,” said the Colombian about his newcomer to Minnesota Twins.
On the other hand, the major league season will feature nine Colombians: Giovanny Urshela (Minnesota Twins), Jorge Alfaro (San Diego Parents), Oscar Mercado (Cleveland Guardians), Jose Quintana (Pittsburgh Pirates), Harold Ramirez (Chicago Cubs), Luis Patiño (Tampa Bay), John Romero (Nationals) from Washington), Reiver Sanmartin (Cincinnati Reds) and Nabil Crismatt (San Diego Fathers).
The Minnesota Twins will be the fourth squad of the Colombian baseball player in the Major Leagues, as we remember that he had already played for the Cleveland Indians (2015-2018), Azulejos de Toronto (2018) and the aforementioned New York Yankees (2019-2021). At the time, Urshela made history by becoming the second 'Cafetero' player in the Bronx ninth after Barranquillero Donovan Solano, who played nine games between 2016 and 2017.
Now, with the New York team, Urshela had a total of 291 matches, hit 296 hits, 41 home runs and drove 153 runs. In his first season, the cartagenero surprised in records after hitting for 314 in 132 matches played with 139 hits and 21 home runs. The latter allowed him to surpass the numbers of his compatriot Orlando Cabrera, who scored 17 with the extinct Montreal Expos, in 2003.
The Minnesota Twins, 'Gio' Urshela's new team, play in the Central Division of the American League, becoming champion in 2020, and play their home matches at Target Field, located in downtown Minneapolis. In addition, it has three world series: 1924, 1987 and 1991.
READ ON: