Loah Linares from Cuba is desperate to make a name for himself in as a big-league baseball player—so desperate, in fact, that he’s been sleeping outside Dodger Stadium for the past 17 days hoping to get noticed.
This isn’t some publicity stunt, either.
“If I didn’t know how great a baseball player I know I am, I wouldn’t be here trying to show off my skills to somebody,” Linares said (h/t ABC7 News in Los Angeles).
Linares has seen many of his fellow countrymen, including Los Angeles’ own Yasiel Puig, make the big jump from Cuba to the majors and wants to follow in their footsteps.
He is an infielder and says he can play anywhere in this capacity.
“Short stop, second base, third base… Once again, I just want the opportunity to show them, not tell them,” he said.
Per ABC7, Linares draws inspiration from Jackie Robinson, who made it possible for African-Americans and other minorities to break into the big leagues.
He says he just needs a chance to prove what he can do.
“I’m outside the L.A. Dodgers Stadium. Stop by, pick me up. Let’s play catch. Let’s get back in the field.”
Unfortunately for him, at this time the Dodgers haven’t seen fit to grant him a tryout or even acknowledge he’s out there waiting for this chance. When contacted by ABC7 the Dodgers had no response, though the security team at Dodger Stadium does say he’s been unsuccessful in his attempts to get in.
Perseverance clearly isn’t an issue for Linares. Hopefully for his sake, he gets a chance to prove his worth as a player—if not by the Dodgers then by another organization in need of talented infielders.