'Highlight of my week': Alvarado meets Houston Astros manager Baker

After a day at the office to forget, Texas State Sen. Carol Alvarado (D-Houston) is savoring the thought of capping the day by meeting Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker.

“It was an honor to meet Dusty, highlighted my week,” Alvarado posted on Twitter. “Thanks Jesus for catching this.”

In MLB circles, Baker is legendary for being a manager that is easily able to build bonds and relationships with his players, no matter how diverse their backgrounds. Alvarado’s chance encounter with the veteran manager came after her 15-hour filibuster of GOP-backed election measures.

“Astros manager Dusty Baker, who knows and appreciates the Mexican and Mexican American community as well as any manager in MLB took time to visit with Texas State Sen. @CarolforTexas before today’s game,” OurSequina.com Editor Jose de Jesus Ortiz posted on Twitter. "Carol Alvarado represents a heavily Latino district.”

Baker’s legend has only grown this year as he’s made it a point of making rookie pitcher Jose Urquidy, the team’s only Mexico native, feel at home. During a recent road trip to Oakland, Urquidy arrived at Ring Central Coliseum to find a bowl of pozole awaiting him in his locker.

“It’s something that he started doing last year and it’s a real nice gesture on his part,” Urquidy told the Houston Chronicle through an interpreter. “It’s a super important part of our relationship and we have a good relationship. He’s a big fan of Mexican food, Mexican culture.” 

Baker often speaks fondly of his time in the Mexican league while still a player.