Phillies rookie Alan Rangel carries mother’s blessing
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Ángel Cantú, Contributor
- June 25, 2025
Alan Rangel fulfills major league dream
HOUSTON – Alan Rangel walked to the mesh net that separates the field and the stands at Estadio Fernando Valenzuela in his hometown of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
His mother Dinora Garcia was waiting to give him a blessing, as had become tradition since he began playing winter ball in 2019 for his hometown Naranjeros. Rangel stood in front of his mother.
The Phillies’ reliever closed his eyes while Garcia made the Sign of the Cross with her right hand and gently swayed her right arm. Garcia started at Rangel’s forehead and then brushed her hand down to his abdomen before raising her hand toward his left shoulder and then across to his right shoulder.
Garcia then placed her hands on Rangel’s lips, and he gently kissed her hand.
The tradition started in Hermosillo, where his mother attended every game. Whenever Rangel believed he was going to pitch he looked forward to his mother’s blessing. It’s a blessing that many Mexican mothers give their children, and it made Rangel feel great when he pitched.
“It’s not the same having your fans and family cheering from afar than on the field,” Rangel said. When they are there it motivates you a little bit more and gives you more energy.”
‘A dream come true’
The 27-year-old pitcher spent 10 seasons in the minor leagues before making his major league debut recently. He signed in 2014 with the Atlanta Braves. Then he spent nine years in the Braves’ organization, bouncing through their minor-league system.
Alan Rangel was promoted to the Braves in 2022, but he didn’t see any action. His long journey through the minors found him in the Angels’ system after he signed a minor-league deal in 2022 via free agency.
Rangel was released by the Angels before finding a home with the Philadelphia Phillies.
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The young right-hander slowly jogged to the mound in the fourth inning at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on June 6. He pitched three innings, allowing three hits and two runs. He also recorded a strikeout.
Upon reaching the mound, he thought of his mother. During all his struggles in the minors, his mother always insisted that he shouldn’t give up.
The Phillies’ relief pitcher thought of all her blessings. Rangel remembered all the words of encouragement that made him stronger. It was a moment he will never forget.
“It was a dream come true,” he said, “not only for me but for my family, friends and all the people who follow me from Hermosillo.”
Rangel’s family didn’t have a chance to make it to his debut because his call-up was abrupt. However, Dinora Garcia and a few other family members made the trip to Houston in hopes of seeing him pitch.
Hermosillo’s latest talent
Alan Rangel comes from a long line of talented Sonora baseball players. The Astros’ Isaac Paredes and Cesar Salazar, who are also from Hermosillo, sat in the opposite dugout from Rangel on Tuesday night for the first game of a three-game series. All three men were teammates in youth leagues back home.
The trio played in tournaments together in the United States. Rangel played second base on the young talented team.
“I couldn’t have imagined all three of us here together, but it’s very beautiful,” Rangel said. “Having played together in the same team and the same city, it feels great to represent Hermosillo highly.”
It’s Rangel’s second time being call-up to the Phillies’ bullpen this year. Bullpen coach Cesar Ramos noticed that Rangel seems more comfortable during his second stint in the majors. The former Tampa Bay Ray left hander concedes that the bullpen coaches and relief pitchers have welcomed Rangel with open arms.
“He throws the ball from the sky and there’s a lot of deception,” Ramos said. “He has good velocity on his changeup and a good fastball.”
Dinora Garcia can’t give her son a physical blessing in the majors. Instead Garcia callls her son after every pitching performance reminding Rangel that he’s living his dream and to not give up.
With his mother’s blessing, Alan Rangel feels driven to achieve his dream.
Ángel Cantú
Contributor
Our Esquina contributor Ángel Cantú is a co-host for the Full Seam Ahead podcast. He joined Teach for America after graduating from Texas A&M University. He is currently a fourth grade teacher at KIPP Public Schools in Houston.
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