The Worcester Red Sox minor league team temporarily changed its name on June 6 to “Los Wepas de Worcester,” while competing against the Rochester Red Wings to embrace Hispanic and Latino communities. 

The WooSox are joined by 75 other minor league baseball teams this season in changing its name for the “Copa de la Diversion,” or “Fun Cup.” “Wepa!” is a Spanish expression of happiness. The name change will last for the first seven games of the season.

The team wore blue uniforms and caps with the words “Los Wepas de Worcester.” The concept came from Worcester resident Daniel Velazquez, who suggested the name back in February at the WooSox Fan Planning Meeting.

“I’m a musical artist myself. Alliteration always helps make things stick,” Velazquez said. “Wepas is a universal word among Latinos. It means anything. So the idea is that it’s this exciting word we can use when we get a home run, when we steal a base.”

Velazquez threw the first pitch of the game on June 6.

“It’s exciting. I’m very very proud. It’s a blessing to be acknowledged. It’s something I didn’t even dream about,” Velazquez said. “Growing up in the city my whole life and being bilingual, it’s just crazy. It’s a word we all use and now it’s a word that the whole stadium can use.”

Joe Bradlee, vice president of baseball operations for the Worcester Red Sox, said the team has made it their mission to celebrate Worcester’s diversity. 

“We want to use these games to celebrate some of the different countries that are in the Worcester community,” Bradlee said.
This acknowledgment makes a difference to his players, too.

“25 percent to a third of our roster are from Hispanic and Latino communities,” Bradlee said. “I think about Yairo Munoz. He’s from the Dominican. When he found out we were doing this, he was just over the moon.”

This celebration extends from language, all the way to action — and remembrance. The Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center offered COVID-19 vaccinations at the ballpark, with the campaign finishing that same day.

“It’s great that we’re here for today’s game,” said Candice Richardson, vice president of nursing and clinical support services. “We just wanted to be able to offer it to the Worcester community.”

Pre-game celebrations also included cultural activities. Worcester-based Ritmos Dance Studio celebrated Latin American culture through three dance numbers.

“It’s exciting. Ritmos has always been part of the Latino and Dominican community in Worcester,” said Masielle Paulino, troop leader of the Ritmos dancers. “There’s a large Domincan community in Worcester. It’s good to be here representing them culturally.”

The group put on an example of bachata, merengue and pallas, with the youth dancers ranging in age from 7 to 20.

The Woosox took advice from the Wepas Advisory Committee, which includes Mari Gonzalez, executive director of the El Buen Samaritano nonprofit food program.

“This event brings the community together with baseball,” Gonzalez said. “With everything going on with the pandemic, we need unity. We need love. We need everyone to be together as one. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, what color, where you live, your beliefs. We need unity and celebrating culture and celebrating life.”

The day was a true community affair, involving many Latino residents. Gonzalez’s daughter, Angelina, a sophomore at Doherty High School, sang the National Anthem, with Jose Perez signing the Dominican National Anthem.

“It’s an honor that I’m able to do this,” Angelina said. “It makes me happy that I’m able to make my family proud and represent the place where I’m from.”

Camilla Bueon brought the game ball to the mound, and Jayla Kennedy yelled play ball. It was their first baseball game.

“It’s very exciting for me,” Kennedy said. “I’m excited to be on the big screen and have thousands of people here.”

The day was also an opportunity to remember the life of a community member. Four of the Dominican players — Munoz, Franchy Cordero, Johan Mieses, and Raynel Espinal — presented a jersey to the family of Enmanuel “Manny” Familia, the Worcester police officer who died in the line of duty trying to save a drowning 14-year-old at Green Hill Park. Familia’s son threw a pitch in his father’s memory, and the stadium also held a moment of silence.

For the Worcester Red Sox, June 6 was a day for community — standing together, in good times and in bad.