Teenage baseball players from Bhutan attend first MLB game at Yankee Stadium
NBC News- 174 views
- 31 Aug 2024
After a viral picture of a baseball league in Bhutan got the attention of the New York Yankees, members of the league were invited ...
A moment that seemed unimaginable. It's been a dream to be here. A meeting these teen baseball and softball players from Bhutan will never forget.
Excitement over and over again.
But to understand how this once in a lifetime moment happened, we have to take you back to this viral photo from last year.
Within the first few hours of it being released, we just received all of the responses that were sent to us and all the support and positive motivation.
Matt DeSantis is a tech specialist who moved to Bhutan nearly 15 years ago. He started the league that same year with his friend, Karma Dorghi, a Bhutan native. Matt wanted to introduce the game he grew up playing to his new community. At first, there were dozens who showed up to the field wanting to play. But then...
Three weeks into it, we had 600, 700 children showing up every day.
Bhutan isn't exactly known for baseball. Their national sport is archery, with some of those kids having never heard about the game.
I was curious about this game when I heard this word baseball.
The photo even getting the attention of some big names like former Yankee, Curtis Granderson. Best of luck to all the players out in Bhutan.
We were just being welcomed into the global community, and it just gave us such inspiration and passion to continue playing.
The stunning image also capturing the eyes of leadership of the Yankees Minor League team, the Hudson Valley Renegates. Their general manager contacted Matt and quickly came up with a plan to get the kids to the States.
Within 20 minutes of a conversation with Matt, we had the framework for what you see here today.
Traveling more than 7,000 miles, the young athletes made their way to New York.
Why We finally are here in Yankee Stadium.
Getting a chance to see the pros at work up close.
I'm excited that I'm meeting Aaron Joe for the first time.
Even sitting in on a pregame press conference.
It's awesome. You want to We want to see the game grow, and this is proof of that.
These interactions with players that they've been watching on YouTube for years and years and years. We're just beyond humbled.
Inspiring a new generation of players.
Hopefully, we can have a Vietnamese baseball player, and I know it will happen wearing pinstripes someday. Thank you so much. A big fan of yours.
Thank you. Steven Romo, NBC News.
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