Yankees' Carlos Beltran: Lack of Spanish translators in baseball
Yankees outfielder Carlos Beltran leads the team with five home runs and 13 RBI this season. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Yankees outfielder Carlos Beltran told The Star-Ledger he thinks that each major league team should have one dedicated Spanish interpreter for players.
Beltran said he was surprised that Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda addressed the media in English after being ejected during Wednesday's game for having pine tar on his neck.
The Yankees have three translators for Japanese players Ichiro Suzuki, Hiroki Kuroda and Masahiro Tanaka.
“Wasn’t Roman there?” Beltran said, referring to Yankees bullpen catcher Roman Rodriguez, who has translated for Spanish-speaking Yankees players.
“It’s a problem, of course, because he can’t express himself the way he wants to,” Beltran said. “It’s a problem. Of course it is.”
A team spokesman later confirmed to the Star-Ledger that Pineda refused Rodriguez's help during the interview because he wants to continue learning the English language. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he thought Pineda stood up and took responsibility for his actions.
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“In the big leagues, we aren't given an interpreter,” Beltran said. “Personally, I understand that it's also on the player to find help if he doesn't feel he can express himself in the way he wishes to."
