HIALEAH, Fla. \u2014 There\u2019s a new wave of professional baseball blending sports with entertainment.<\/p>\n
Right in the middle of it is a player with roots in Hialeah who is bringing that energy back home.<\/p>\n
At Country Village Park in Hialeah, kids aren\u2019t just working on their swings.<\/p>\n
They\u2019re perfecting their big-play celebrations.<\/p>\n
Through flair and personality, much of their inspiration can be traced back to one player: 31-year-old Cory Cubano.<\/p>\n
After playing with the Savannah Bananas, he now suits up in a hard-to-miss uniform for the Chili Peppers.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a team in the Cosmic League, part of the fast-growing world where entertainment meets baseball.<\/p>\n
He now returns to teams like the Hurricanes Baseball Club to mentor young athletes and his authenticity is catching on far beyond South Florida. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s where I got the whole \u2018Cory Cubano\u2019\u2014walking around with a red Solo cup and cigar in the outfield. I get to be myself,” Cubano told Local 10\u2019s Michaila Hightower.<\/p>\n
Known for his larger-than-life personality, his style \u2014 rooted in Cuban culture \u2014 embraces what some call \u201csaz\u00f3n,\u201d a mix of confidence and showmanship among Latinos.<\/p>\n
Cubano has a simple, but positive message. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf I can teach anything to these kids, it\u2019s just to have fun out there, because baseball is a game of failure,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Cosmic baseball will be touring Florida, including stops near Miami with the Tri-City Chili Peppers.<\/p>\n
Specific dates haven\u2019t been released yet, so keep an eye out. Tickets are on a lottery basis because of how competitive it is to snag them. <\/p>\n