This year’s MLB Little League Classic proved it’s an event like no other
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Following their 4-3 victory in the Little League Classic on Monday, Nationals manager Dave Martinez walked into his postgame presser repping a Southeast Little League jersey. He had grown up within the region and was rooting for the team from Nolensville, Tennessee.
That's one of the many examples that illustrate just how unique the Little League Classic truly is. As a kid that's growing up playing baseball, seeing an MLB manager you've likely seen interview clips of on SportsCenter wearing your team's jersey and saying he's rooting for you has to be surreal.
"I want to come back," said Martinez on the event. "What a great experience playing for the guys, for our organization, it was unbelievable. It was a long day but an unbelievable one."
While the game still mattered at the end of the night -- being the decider in a split series and one that could impact either team's run to the playoffs -- that didn't take away from the energy the players brought in interacting with players. Whether it was providing them with pointers and advice or just hanging out and having fun with them, they made these kids' entire year within the span of an afternoon.
"I tried to mingle with everybody, get around to everybody who wasn't playing games and hang out," said Washington pitcher Jordan Weems before the game. "It's always great getting to see the younger community and getting to interact with those guys."
Weems got to meet the Southeast team from Tennessee and Southwest team from Texas, played ping pong with the Curacao kids and played Wiffle ball with Chinese Taipei. He was particularly impressed with Chinese Taipei's ace pitcher Fan Chen-Jun, who's been a big talking point throughout the series.
"Got to throw it to him in Wiffle ball today and he took me deep a couple times," said Weems. "It was cool to see him and interact with those guys."
Interacting with the Little Leaguers throughout the day gave the pros a sense of nostalgia. They pondered how they would have felt in their shoes if they got to experience this as a kid.
They were able to provide these kids with memories they'd hold onto forever and be there in person to offer encouragement to those who were eliminated and those who are dreaming of becoming pros themselves.
"The odds to make the big leagues are pretty slim, but you always see like two or three guys that made it through Williamsport and made it to the big leagues," said Weems. "I know when I was their age, it would have meant the world to me to see some big-league guys and I think a lot of those guys are hoping to be in our position one day."
It made the kids feel more confident about their abilities. And in some cases, that situation flipped.
The attention the pros got throughout the day was expected by some of the more well-known players. But even C.J. Abrams, who's relatively new to the league and still establishing himself, was surprised to find himself being swarmed with kids when he arrived at the stadium.
Though the game itself didn't offer much in terms of offensive fireworks, every Little League team in attendance cheered through its entirety. The entire crowd may not have stayed, but those that did were fueled by the kids and their excitement.
And for Keibert Ruiz, the night was particularly surreal. Born and raised in Valencia, Venezuela, he could hear the players from Venezuela cheering for him every time he stepped up to the plate.
"I was really excited and ended up swinging the first pitch. I tried to do too much," laughed Ruiz, referring to when he heard them cheering. "It was a really good experience being here and seeing these kids. That's the best age to play baseball, just get to go out and have fun."
The event as a whole was a unique experience for them.
It makes sliding down a big hill a normality again, which coupled with playing at a smaller stadium in front of a smaller crowd brought them back to their childhoods.