Rice’s Javier Vazquez, Hiram Bocachica return to Puerto Rico

Javier Vazquez Jr. spent so much time at Estadio Francisco Montaner growing up, the Rice University infielder cannot pinpoint his earliest memories in a childhood full of fun experiences at the stadium a short distance from his childhood home in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

The son of arguably the greatest major league pitcher to come out of Puerto Rico returned to his island as a redshirt freshman with the Rice University baseball team for the inaugural Puerto Rico Challenge. The trip is a homecoming for Rice head coach Jose Cruz Jr., Vazquez and freshman shortstop Hiram Bocachica Jr.

“I was a batboy some time for them,” Vazquez says of the Leones de Ponce of the Puerto Rican winter league. “So I have great memories in that park. It’s crazy to think about this first full-circle moment. I never thought I’d be here. I’ve always wanted to. Thank God it happened. I’m going to work hard for it to work out.”

The Owls will start the Puerto Rican Challenge on Friday against Villanova. They’ll face Michigan on Saturday and Virginia on Sunday. Missouri, UConn, Stetson and Penn State will also participate at the Caguas site of the tournament.

Rice University, the most prestigious academic institution in the Southwest, has a rich history of baseball success. That winning legacy was built in many ways off former coach Wayne Graham’s successful recruitment in 1992 of Jose Cruz Jr., the son of the legendary Astros outfielder.

Puerto Rican pipeline to Rice

Cruz was born in Arroyo, Puerto Rico. He was raised in Houston during his father Jose Cruz’s playing career. His younger brother Jose Enrique played on the 2003 Rice team that won the school’s first national championship. Jose Cruz Jr.’s two sons were the second generation of the family to play at Rice.

Now, Cruz has another pair of Puerto Rican kids with big league pedigrees on his roster. Javier Vazquez and freshman shortstop Hiram Bocachica Jr. are both excited to start their season at La Isla del Encanto.

“It’s something that’s very beautiful to be in my country doing what I like to do in front of our fans and family,” said Bocachica, whose father played parts of eight seasons in the majors.

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Javier Vazquez, a 6-foot-1, 195-pounder, is competing for playing time in the infield. Bocachica, a slick-fielding, 5-foot-7 shortstop from Bayamon, has positioned himself as a top contender to start as a true freshman.

Cruz says he won’t be surprised if Bocachica is the best defensive shortstop in the American Athletic Conference this year and in the nation eventually. 

“I’ve seen those kids for a very long time,” Cruz says. “It’s exciting, man. It’s exciting to be able to open the doors and create a possibility or bridge … for some of those guys on the island to come to a place like Rice to be noticed and be considered. I think there’s more than what’s around that have the potential to play at a DI level.”  

Familial trust

Bocachica is too young to have any memories of his father playing in the majors. He does have some memories of watching his father play in Japan with the Seibu Lions in 2008 and 2009.

The elder Bocachica trusted Cruz to help develop his son beyond the baseball diamond.

“One of the things that the dad told me was that he wanted me to take on his son as a player and to give him a little bit more of the discipline part, the perspective piece, and how to go about his business not only on the field but off the field,” Cruz said. “I took that as a great compliment. And I’ve taken it really personally to help him accomplish his goals.”

The younger Bocachica understands that he is playing for a fellow Boricua his father Hiram Sr. respects. 

“My father has been a fundamental piece for my career,” Bocachica says. “Everything I do is because of him. Now that he has gone through what I want to go through, I know that he will always want what is best for me. I will do what he tells me and be disciplined.”

Tight bond

Vazquez and Bocachica are grateful to have each other to lean on. Vazquez, who played at IMG Academy in Florida, speaks English fluently. Bocachica arrived at Rice from the Puerto Rican Baseball Academy. 

He’s still adjusting to the English language. When not in class or playing baseball, they can usually be found together at Bocachica’s dorm room or Vazquez’s place off campus listening to Reggaeton, Trap or a little Bad Bunny.

“It’s great having another person from where I’m from because we can relate,” Javier Vazquez said. “We have a lot of the same interests. We can listen to the same music. It’s great because it just brings us closer together, and that companionship is what we need for this team.”