Rafa Hernández-Brito has sung a Christmas song on the radio before. When he does Spanish language play-by-play for the Cleveland Guardians, Hernández-Brito typically punctuates Johnkensy Noel home runs with a rendition of Dulce Navidad. But there was nothing typical about Noel’s home run on Thursday, and there was nothing predictable about the radio call.
“Somehow,” Hernández-Brito said, “this other song came out!”
With two outs in the ninth inning of Game 3 of the American League Championship Series, the Guardians’ rookie right fielder Noel — nicknamed “Big Christmas” by his manager — delivered a pinch-hit, two-run home run that tied the game and set the stage for David Fry’s game-winning homer in the 10th to beat the New York Yankees, 7-5. In the booth, Hernández-Brito delivered an all-time call to an unexpected soundtrack.
Spanish call of Jhonkensy Noel’s Game 3 home run is a classic 🔥
“Feliz Navidad!”
🎙️@ElalcaldeRafa #GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/1LHZfE9X0Q
— BIGPLAY (@BIGPLAY) October 18, 2024
“I don’t know why I changed it this time, but I have my best impression of José Feliciano doing Feliz Navidad!” Hernández-Brito said shortly after the game.. “But it felt like Christmas!”
The call went viral instantly, with even non-Spanish speakers recognizing the emotional zeal of Hernández-Brito’s holiday caroling against a backdrop of laughing and screaming by his broadcast partner, the former Cleveland second baseman Carlos Baerga.
“I always have to go back and listen to the call and see what came out of my mouth in a moment like that,” Hernández-Brito said. “Because you can’t really prepare for it.”
There might not have been much preparation, but Hernández-Brito did do a bit of pregame prognosticating. Before the game, Hernández-Brito said, he happened to see Noel, Fry and Guardians designated hitter Kyle Manzardo in the dugout, and Hernández-Brito told each of them they would hit a home run in Game 3. His predictions went 3-for-3, with Manzardo going deep in the third inning before Noel’s and Fry’s heroics at the end.
“We knew this team was in first place for most of the year because they have always fought to the last out,” Hernández-Brito said. “They have never put their hands down. So, we knew it was going to happen.”
It was the second time this postseason that Hernández-Brito and Baerga got some national attention for a home run call. Their raucous celebration of Lane Thomas’s grand slam in the Division Series was similarly unruly — but in the best way.
ALL ABOARD THE LANE TRAIN!!!!!! @BaergaCarlos @themikepicha @osequeraTOMALO @LosGuardians @CleGuardians @fs1350 #VamosGuardians https://t.co/XbpM5DIPjp
— Rafa Hernández-Brito (@ElalcaldeRafa) October 14, 2024
Hernández-Brito said he and others have given Baerga a hard time for screaming over the top of a call for such a pivotal play, but sometimes, the moment is too big to hold back.
“At the end of the day, the emotion of the moment is so explosive, I didn’t even hear (Baerga) until the end,” Hernández-Brito said. “I’m happy with the fact that the emotion that comes out is one of a fan. It is the real emotion, and that’s why I never know what comes out of my mouth.”
(Top photo of Noel celebrating: AP Photo / Godofredo Vásquez)
