Carlos Mendoza's head coach as manager of the New York Mets is an account of the experiences he had in Beisbol. Before the giants of Carolina in the League of Beisbol professionals, Roberto Clemente, a decade ago, was a cornerstone of his goal as a boss and strategy.

During the 2014-15 season in Puerto Rico, Joe Espada, the Astros' current manager in Houston, was an experimenter and became a struggling Mendoza coach, serving as bench and base coach. Talented talents such as Kike Hernández, Jesús Feliciano and Johneshwy Fargas, Mendoza, were guests in a highly competitive and demanding team that had to prepare for the Desafíos of the Grandes Ligas.

Según Espada, this period was essential for building the base in Mendoza as a professional trainer. “They are moments that have created a base for those we know who have made their decisions and maneuvered their players,” confirmed the Siderales manager. The intensity of Puerto Rico's annual league, with its passion and demands, went to Mendoza, an ideal laboratory for experimentation, teaching and growth.

The experience in Puerto Rico that Mendoza allows requires a deeper understanding of the player's psychology, the importance of interpersonal relationships and the ability to adapt to different situations. I am also given the opportunity to train with players of different nationalities and different playing styles, I am excited about my perspective and ready to coach multicultural team like the Mets.

Espada's influence was crucial in this process. As a mentor and colleague, Joe met with Mendoza with his knowledge and experience, accompanying him in his career as a trainer. The relationship between the two was hard and fructífera and had an unforgivable feeling on the street of Mendoza.

Ultimately, the period in which Carlos Mendoza worked with the Carolina giants was a fundamental chapter in their history. The experience he had in Puerto Rico, along with the leadership of Joe Espada, prepared me for the disappointments of the Grandes Ligas and converted me to the young man who was there. The transition to the Liga Invernal Puerto Rico is a clear example of how long experience could enable the future of a Beisbol professional.