Stay Tranquilo - Mariano Rivera Gets REAL About Big Papi, Pedro Martinez & Latino Baseball Culture

Episode Date: May 6, 2026

Hall of Fame closer and New York Yankees legend Mariano Rivera joins the Stay Tranquilo Podcast LIVE from Latinos & Sports in Miami! ⚾🔥 Mo talks about the legendary Yankees vs. Red Sox rivalry, facing David Ortiz (“Big Papi”), Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez, and what made that era of baseball so special. He also dives into the passion Latino players bring to the game, the impact of the World Baseball Classic, and why Latin culture continues to shape baseball today. Plus — Mariano introduces his brand new venture: Mo Heat Hot Sauce 🌶️ bringing authentic Panamanian flavor and Caribbean heat to kitchens everywhere. Topics Covered: Yankees vs. Red Sox rivalry Playing against Big Papi & Pedro Martinez Latino influence in MLB World Baseball Classic energy Mariano Rivera’s MLB legacy Mo Heat Hot Sauce launch Panama culture & flavor Make sure to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more exclusive interviews and conversations from the Stay Tranquilo Podcast. 🎙️🔥 #MarianoRivera #Yankees #MLB #Baseball #WorldBaseballClassic #BigPapi #PedroMartinez #StayTranquilo #NewYorkYankees #MoHeat #LatinoBaseball #RedSox Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Talk to me a little bit at the times playing Big Poppy. Oh, Andreas, I mean, all that... Because me growing up, that was... Pedro and all the guys, the money, Ramirez, and all those guys that played for Boston Rexos and us being the Yankees. I mean, it was amazing. It was great, you know, again. You know, it's hard to shed us down as great.

as community, as people, you know, being Latino, you can, you can deny what we have done and what will continue doing in the game in the sport. You know, we are pioneers. We are here at Latinos in sports in Miami, Florida, and today we have the privilege of being joined by Mariano Rivera, a Hall of Famer, a World Series champ,

and now here with Mo's Heat Hot Sauce. Mariano, thank you so much for taking the time. Just thank you for having it. having me. It's a pleasure to be here with you. And before we talk about the hot sauce, we're very excited to hear about that. But I want to get your perspective on this event, right? Latinos in sports now has been around for a little bit over three years, right? Hosting events across major sporting events. This week was F1 here in Miami. But there's so much Latinos here in Miami, right? You know that. And we've seen the representation grow over the years.

So I'm curious to get your thoughts, right, of what the impact is for an event like this and why Latinos so important to sports? Well, I mean, first of all, Latino sports organization that has done an amazing job, you know, and, you know, elevating and celebrating us as a Latino in sport,

you know, organization that take that in consideration. It's special, you know, so because Latinos in general, you know, sport in anywhere that we are, we bring that passion. We bring that Caribbean, you know, we bring

that heat, you know, to whatever we do, you know. And for me, I'm proud. I'm proud to be a Latino. I'm proud to bring and done everything that we did for the Latino to be consideration, and that's where Latino in sport takes place. Absolutely. So I'm grateful for this organization and thankful

for being recognized, you know, but above all things, I mean, just being a Latino in general. Absolutely. I'm proud. Yeah. World Baseball Classic was here a few months ago. Amazing. Amazing.

Amazing. It's arguably one of my favorite sporting events I've ever attended. Two times now in a row where I've been there and it's unbeatable. But you know, but this year was different because this year, I mean, I saw the Latino passion into the game. You know, I mean, our rules are our seasoning, our flavors, you know, amazing. I was so happy with the results. And then at the end, Venezuela being the champions, you know, I mean, so happy for them. You know, I mean, they needed something positive.

Absolutely. And they got it. You know, I was proud of that. Yes. You could see the emotion, right? especially from the head coach, from the team, right? Everybody, you know, tears, right, hugs, everything. From a base hit, they're jumping out of the dugout, right?

And I'm a baseball fan, right? I've been watching baseball my whole life. Seeing kind of the difference between Team USA in a championship game and Team Venezuela, says you a big difference between the Latino, you know, and not to not, you know, Team USA at all. It's just a different dynamic and a different energy. Different, totally different energy. That's what we bring to the team that we play.

Absolutely. Energy like no other. Passion like no other. And that's why it's hard to deny that, you know, that we're bringing all that passion, all that love, all the Latino flavor into the sport, you know, for me. And again, I had to say it again, you know, the Latino in sport organization had done a tremendous job

that I'm glad that they formed this organization. bring more Latino and put us where we belong. Right. And from your point in your career, right? Obviously, it feels a little bit different now than before, right? The noise around Latinos, not just in sports, right, across every industry. What was it like being a Latino in your era playing baseball? We're talking about the Bernie Williams.

We talk about the Jorge Mosa. We talk about the Luis Soho. We talk about so many players that we have. You know, and obviously myself represented the Latino in all those years. You know what I mean? You can't keep that quiet. No. You know, it's impossible.

That's what we bring to the game. That was, we bring to the organization that we play, you know, especially now. You know, all these young guys, youngsters, the great players, they're doing so much. You know what I mean? And now representation in the business. in the big leagues is huge. So I won't be surprised in a future generation, future years, we will be the majority in the big leagues.

I won't be surprised. Yeah, I believe that. Because, I mean, that's the type of, that's how passionate we are for the game and how good we are in the game. And the fans rally behind that, right? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's what gets us to show up.

That's what brings the energy, too, because we feed off the energy. Yes, defense will be the supporting all along. Talk to me a little bit about the times playing Big Poppy. Oh, Andreas, I mean, all that big poppy, that was. And Pedro and all the guys, the money, Ramirez, and all those guys that played for Boston Rexos and us being the Yankees. I mean, it was amazing. It was great.

You know, again, you know, it's hard to shut us down as race, as community, as people, you know, being Latino. You can, you can deny what we have done and what will continue doing in the game in the sport. You know, we are pioneers, you know, the Cepeda, you know, the Carus, the Clementes, all these guys. you know, they did it before us, that opened the door for us. And then it was our time. And then the ones they are doing it now and the future generation to come, it's just amazing, you know. So, I mean, again, if you don't see that because you're blind.

100%. Yeah, it's the truth. The proof is in the visual, right? You see it every day. And the more you're in it, the people can feel it, right? And I think to me that's the biggest, that's the biggest part, especially being a Latino, right? You feel the passion, you feel the purpose because it's in our sangue, right? It's in our blood.

Yeah. You can take that away from us. It's in our blood, you know. We don't know how to play different. Yeah. You have, we have to play with that passion, with that emotion, you know, and we have to show it. Yes, we see. Oh, well, I want to talk now, you know, post-career, right?

had a great legacy, but now you're here starting a new venture, right? A lot of inspiration around the heat that you brought on the mound, right? Yes, yes, and the cutter and the sinker combo, one of the deadliest combos. And now, maybe not a deadly hotzas, but caliente, right? Caliente and great. You know, you say that, you know, for many years, 19th season to be a sack, I brought the heat into the mound, you know. Now I wanted to bring it with the love and passion.

to people's kitchen, people's home, you know, representing us as Caribbean or as Latino, you know, the flavor, the authenticity of Panamanian sauce cuisine, you know, it's something special. And that's where most he was born, you know, the authenticity of our people. And I wanted to do something special, you know, I mean, I didn't want to do just, something or random or something. I just don't know what to have my time and when I do that. No, no, no. Most heat was specific thought about really thinking

the process and all that stuff and bringing some flavors and seasoning and passion that we have in Panama to the world. And that's why most heat has been created. And by the way, it's amazing. It's not because I say it. Andres, it's amazing this size is again you must have it at your home you have to there's no

the choices there's no choice you hear that you gotta get it have this sauce in your house I'm just an envisioning Saturday night tacos on the table maybe some some saviche some saviche so some love there on this oh come on and just a little mose heat there there a perfect Saturday night Right there, a little baseball on the TV. Great Saturday night. You know, with Mojit. I love it.

I love it. I got to try the orange hot tuts. It is delicious. The green, too. Well, the quarter, you know, the orange is the quarter, you know, which is, you know, you know, everybody knows about the quarter. A deadly cutter. Come on, Andrew. But it's a combination of these two.

Okay. That's what this was for. But these two don't fall behind. These things are gray. So again, it's something. that we thought about, something that we're proud of. Absolutely. And we want the world to taste it.

Don't take my word for it. Just taste it. You hear that? Just taste it. It's going to be released very soon, right? May 15. May 15. Yeah, a Major League Baseball store, New York City. For the first time, most heat is going to appear. We love and passion that most bring to your house.

I love it. Well, Mariano, a pleasure to have you. Thank you so much for, for taking the time to do this. And as he said, take your time, try some mose heat. You know you got plenty of options to choose from, makes it match it however you want, whether that's a tapas, saviets, tacos, whatever it may be.

You got something for everybody. Mariano, thank you so much. Andres. A pleasure. A pleasure of me.