MIAMI
Back home in Nicaragua, Dennis Martinez is a legend, a national hero who pitched 23 seasons in the major leagues, made four All-Star teams and became the first Latin American-born pitcher to throw a perfect game.
Back home, he is a humanitarian and coach and pioneer, known to a country by one nickname: “El Presidente”.
But as Martinez, 61, stood along a dugout railing here at Marlins Park on Tuesday afternoon, he could not stop talking about Royals third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert, the latest Nicaraguan to make an impact in the Major Leagues.
“Dennis Martinez is over,” Martinez said, smiling and looking toward Cuthbert.