The Venezuelan baseball player Omar Vizquel is not tired. At almost 45 years old, he earned a home run for the Toronto Blue Jays in a spring training game yesterday.

It was Vizquel’s first home run in this year’s spring training. On the mound was Drew Smyly of the Detroit Tigers, and one man was on base.

Vizquel increased his global average to .47 and batting average to .441.

The Venezuelan star is part of an exceptional group of players who have remained active long after many of their colleagues retired.

If manager John Farrel decides to put Vizquel in as shortstop during the regular season, the Venezuelan player will surely have achieved another record for having played so long. In baseball, only rarely has a shortstop played for 45 seasons.

Vizquel has said several times that after the 2012 season, he will hang up his spikes and work as a manager. His main target: the Venezuelan team Leones del Caracas. Because the directors of the Leones del Caracas wish to see Vizquel leading the team, he is likely to become their manager for the 2013-2014 season. Of course, it all depends on the performance of the current manager, Rick Sweet.

Also participating in yesterday’s game was Miguel Cabrera, who is recovering from an injury to his left eye a couple of weeks ago. Cabrera played the first inning and batted a single, made four hits and scored one run.

YVKE Mundial / Press Office – Venezuelan Embassy to the U.S. / April 3, 2012