SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Hiram Bithorn’s statue is no longer standing. The stadium bearing his name is ready to bustle again.
That’s an apt way to show how things are right now in Puerto Rico, which is about to host its most significant sporting events since Hurricane Maria dramatically ravaged the islands seven months ago. Major League Baseball returns Tuesday to San Juan, with Cleveland and Minnesota opening a two-game series that many hope will remind the rest of the world that recovery from the storm is far from over.
“I hate to say it, but this is a great platform, so people can see the reality,” said Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora, a native Puerto Rican and someone who bought tickets to Indians-Twins for his family — and wishes it was his team playing in San Juan this week.