Angel has been selected to participate in the prestigious New Balance Future Stars Series National Combine in Nashville, TN. He needs your help to make this dream a reality. The players are not charged a fee to participate but instead get the opportunity to raise funds for Future Stars Series Foundation and No Kid Hungry. The players have a chance to earn the entire trip for free just by helping raise money for these great causes.
Meet Angel: He was born on August 3, 2006, in San German, Puerto Rico. He started playing baseball at the age of 3 years old with the team named Cachorros. From the beginning he showed passion for baseball. He used to watch MLB channel every day to learn about game situations and then put them in practice during games. He won a lot while playing in Puerto Rico; league championships, regional championships, National Runner up, selected to participated in the Puerto Rico National youth team. He represented Puerto Rico in different internationals tournaments at Dominic Republic and USA. At the age of 11 years old his family and moved to Miami, Florida. That moment was a little hard for him because of the big cultural change and he had to start over again with new friends and new teams. He learned the USA baseball culture and messed it together with the Puerto Rican baseball culture. Those experiences have helped him to keep opening more great opportunities here in USA. He has had the chance to participate with great organizations and high level of competition. This has allowed for him to get his name on the radar.
Angel shares his favorite baseball memory: "Thanks to GOD, I have many baseball memories from very young age until now. But the biggest one and special one for me happened a year ago. I skip my workout at the gym that day to go and watch the championship league game (7u) of my little brother. During the game he was doing good defensive plays and in each one he looked to me and showed me thumb up with a huge smile in each play he made. At the last inning the game was tie at 1 run and my brother's team was the home team, he comes to plate with one out and he hits a double. When he stands at second base, he points me and then he punches his chest, just like I do after a good play or good hit. After him, the next hitter hit a single to left field and my little brother score the winning run. He came to me, jumped into my arms and told me in my ears that he had played that game like me, and I tell back to him that he played better than me. After that trophy ceremony he give me the game ball that the umpire was given to him. For me this is the best memory from baseball that I have, been the inspiration for my little brother is something amazing. "
Angel also shares what attending the NBFSS National Combine means to him: "To be part of this event represent a lot to me, is something special and a big example of perseveration and self-confidence. Time ago, I was watching the kind of ball players that are selected to attend this event and I was very impress with the skills and talent of those players. That moment I set goal that I want to be part of that elite players and participate in that event, I started to work harder that I used. At this moment that I received the invitation after my performance at Orlando, I learned and proof that all the dedication in what we want to do or want to be is about perseverance but must important is to trust in our self and have confidence. Now I have a new chance and additional motivation to keep working harder for my goals and be a big example to my little brother and keep in him the passion for baseball."
The New Balance Future Stars Series is not just about discovering and developing the MLB Heros of tomorrow. It’s about discovering and developing the leaders of tomorrow by creating real opportunities where they don’t exist today: opportunities for education, opportunities to give back to their community… opportunities for a future. We are incredibly grateful that Angel Santiago-Velazquez is a part of this chapter in our mission to CHANGE THE GAME!
Up to 20% of all net proceeds will be donated to Future Stars Series Foundation and No Kid Hungry.