CHICAGO — White Sox slugger Edwin Encarnacion has stepped to the plate to help the Dominican Republic’s fight against the coronavirus.
The designated hitter joined forces with Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez and former Red Sox star David Ortiz to create the COVID-19 Dominican Republic Initiative through the Pedro Martinez Foundation.
Encarnacion is a native of La Romana, D.R., and Martinez and Ortiz were also born in the Dominican Republic. Many current and former major league players from the Dominican Republic have donated funds for supplies, including ventilators, face masks, disposable suits, test kits, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies and food.
They’ve raised more than $1 million so far, according to a White Sox news release.
Encarnacion formulated the plan during a phone conversation with Martinez, Ortiz and his former Blue Jays teammate Jose Bautista.
“This idea comes because here in the Dominican, every player does something for the city where he’s from,” Encarnacion said Wednesday during a conference call. “I know everybody has been doing something in their city, but I want to do something together. Everybody together in one team so we can collect more money and we can give more things, more supplies to those who need it, like the doctors, medical staff, people who need food.
“Everybody together in one thing, we can collect more money and we can help more people.”
Encarnacion said more than 50 players answered the call.
“Every guy that’s in that group, right away they said, ‘Yes, I want to help,’ ” Encarnacion said. “It’s a great feeling for us. Those players, the heart that they have for giving to the community, giving back what they’ve made, it’s a great feeling, and I’m very proud of all those guys here in this group.”
There are more than 8,400 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 350 deaths in the Dominican Republic, according to the World Health Organization.
“In my city, in La Romana, it’s been 10 people that I know (that have been affected),” Encarnacion said. “Five people dead already and another five are trying to recover. It’s been difficult for my city. But right now, nobody close to my family has the virus. We’re just trying to get away from dying and asking God to bless all. It’s been a difficult time here in the Dominican, especially in my city.”
“Right now in the Dominican it’s not good. It’s getting worse. The impact that we’ve been having, we’ve bought over 1,000 kits of food for the people here. And we give it to different cities in the Dominican Republic, different players, so they can give that food to the people who need it.”
The foundation recently held a food donation event in Manoguayabo, a suburb of Santo Domingo where Martinez was born and raised. Encarnacion and Martinez were among those involved.
“It’s a great feeling for me to be part and to do all we’ve been doing with a person like Pedro Martinez,” Encarnacion said.
In addition to lending a hand, Encarnacion is spending time with his family and working out as he awaits word on baseball’s next steps. If activities resume, Encarnacion said three weeks would be ideal for a second spring training.
“I’ve been working to be ready for the season,” he said. “I’d just like to see pitches. It isn’t going to take more than three weeks. If they give us three weeks, I’d be grateful.”
