Daddy Yankee Serves as World Baseball Classic Ambassador, Releases WBC Anthem “Chispa”

Daddy Yankee is getting in the game…

The 46-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton superstar is serving as the ambassador for the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC).

Daddy YankeeAs part of his ambassadorial duties, Daddy Yankee throws his superstar status behind an anthem for the current tournament, “Chispa,” which he co-produced with Play-N-Skilz.

According to a statement from organizers, “Chispa” will be featured across WBC and MLB social platforms, and with the Classic’s coverage, in-park activations and more.

Also, Daddy Yankee is expected to attend several games played at loanDeport park in Miami throughout the tournament, which he launched by throwing out the first pitch last Sunday (March 12) before the Venezuela vs. Puerto Rico game.

Much has happened in the year since Yankee announced his retirement from music.

Born Raymond Ayala, Daddy Yankee ends his touring career on a high, with his La Ultima Vuelta trek raking-in $197.8 million and 1.9 million tickets sold over 83 shows in 2022, according to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore.

That’s by some distance the biggest tour of his career, and behind only Bad Bunny among Latin artists.

Yankee’s collaboration with Luis Fonsi, “Despacito,” last year extend its reign as the most-viewed music video on YouTube, by hitting the magical 8 billion streams milestone. And his final album, 2022’s Legendaddy, gave Yankee a career-high No. 8 peak on the Billboard 200, his second top 10 appearance on the all-genres chart.

Daddy Yankee’s beloved Puerto Rico is one of 20 nations competing in the Classic, which reaches its climax March 21 in Miami. Sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), it’s the sport’s premier international competition — essentially, the world cup for baseball.

Anissa Urtez Named to Olympic Softball All-Tournament Team at Tokyo Games

2020 Tokyo Games

Anissa Urtez is an Olympic all-star…

The 26-year-old Mexican American softball player, representing Mexico at the 2020 Tokyo Games, has been named to the Olympic softball all-tournament team.

Anissa Urtez

Urtez was picked as the all-tournament shortstop.

During the fifth inning in Mexico’s game against Japan on Thursday, July 22, Urtez sent Japanese legend Yukiko Ueno’s pitch over the fence for a home run.

It was the first home run in the Olympic Games by a player from the Mexican National Team.

while her real-life fiancée Amanda Chidester of the United States was picked as the designated player.

Urtez’s Mexican teammate Suzy Brookshire was picked as the right fielder.

Yamato Fujita of Japan was named most valuable player of the tournament. She hit .389 with three homers and seven RBI in six games for Japan, which beat the U.S. 2-0 on Tuesday for its second straight title.

Four Americans were selected for the all-tournament team, with Chidester joined by left-hander Monica Abbott, second baseman Ali Aguilar and centerfielder Haylie McCleney.

The team also included right-hander Yukiko Ueno and third baseman Yu Yamamoto of Japan and catcher Kaleigh Rafter and first baseman Jenn Salling of Canada.

Also selected were Italian left fielder Laura Vigna and Japanese first baseman Minori Naito, who was picked as the best defensive player.

The team was picked by the World Baseball Softball Confederation and the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee.