“I have fought hard to achieve this. The sacrifice of going there to spend a long time without seeing my family was worth it, and that is the reward,” said 14-year-old Ezequiel Rivera after he touched down at the Culiacán airport where his mother waited to receive him.

Once promising to become the best Mexican representative of the sport, Rivera had left home with big dreams. And finally, his journey has reached a conclusion. Or should we say, the beginning? The prodigy recently signed a life-changing contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, making him one of six Sinaloense players to ever to make it into the big league.

While that’s enough to turn heads, another video of the exact moment Rivera breaks the news to his mother, Mary, has surfaced online. Keep your tissues handy for this one!

Ezequiel Rivera’s emotional conversation with his mom 

When Ezequiel Rivera travelled to the US to join the Showtime Athlete Academy, he had no idea what awaited him. Promising to forge “the next superstars of baseball”, it was a tall order for the institute to fulfill. Not with Rivera, though. For he was already on his way to carve a path.

Rivera “The Machine”, a moniker given to him for his batting speed of up to 95 mph, was a member of the youth Mexican Baseball Team. The 14-year-old delivered a standout performance at the World Baseball Softball Confederation U-12 Baseball World Cup. Reaping the rewards for his dedication, he was named the third-best baseman of the  U-12 Baseball tournament. Now, with Rivera going into a different world and joining the Dodgers, he might have fulfilled his long-awaited dream. Expressing his happiness, Rivera communicated with his mom soon after he got selected by the Dodgers  

In the clip, the young boy shared his life-changing news, saying, “Mom, I have some news. I finally signed with the Dodgers.” Followed by a shaky voice and teary eyes, Rivera insisted his mom rest and return to Culiacan, their home city, “Ya por fin puede descansar para alla pa Culiacan, ma [You can finally rest over there in Culiacán, ma.].” Indeed, over the past few years, Ezequiel Rivera has been one of the most talented basemen from Culiacan Sinaloa. 

Rivera’s journey from local leagues to getting international exposure is a testament to his skills and talent. Right after his performance in the WBSC World Cup, the Dodgers and Seattle Mariners had their eyes on the young baseman. However, it was the Los Angeles Dodgers who secured Rivera at last.

Having the dream to play for the Dodgers, Rivera said, “In a couple of years, god willing, you guys will see me playing in MLB stadiums with the Los Angeles Dodgers,” Currently, the young baseman is waiting for a US Visa to get approved as it will take a couple of months.

Rivera, despite being selected, is still not a complete Dodgers player

Over the years, the Dodgers have signed plenty of raw baseball talents. Earlier in 2024, the club signed a 17-year-old Rafy Peguero for their free agent class.  

However, Ezequiel, who has become the news of the moment, still has a long way to go. Reason? He is still 14 years old and has no right to sign a professional contract with the team. This keeps him on a minor player list, and it will take a couple of more years to play at full capacity. 

However, another good news still awaits for the young baseman. Still signing a pre-agreement, he can officially join the Californian team when he reaches the age of maturity. Also, when he turns 16 years old, teams will get the privilege of signing international baseball players. With this, until the 2026-27 season comes, he will get the right to sign an official contract and begin his professional journey. 

But that isn’t a reason to stop celebrating, is it? As the prodigy returned to his country, a huge crowd was already ready to welcome their hometown hero back. Sharing a picture of the family and River’s ex-teammates, friends and colleagues at the airport, Showtime Athletes Academy wrote in an Instagram post: “Capturing the great moments where the family and friends of “THE MACHINE” Ezequiel Rivera was received at the Culiacán Sinaloa Airport…Welcome home with chin held high and goals met”.

In a conversation with Univision Los Angeles, the young player also credited his brother for teaching him the game, and parents for inspiring him. Amid all this, Ezequiel’s mother revealed another funny aspect of the newfound fame. “I’ve never had my cell phone ring like this time,” she said.

Now, that’s the kind of pain that doesn’t hurt. Hopefully, the time will soon come when Ezequiel Rivera makes his debut! Are you excited?