ORLANDO, Fla. - The State of Florida is now home to over 1 million Puerto Ricans, the majority of whom live in Central Florida. UCF’S Puerto Rico Research Hub partnered with the MLB Saturday for the very first Puerto Rico Baseball Day. Hundreds of kids showed up to the event.

What You Need To Know

  • UCF hosted its first Puerto Ricoo Baseball Day

  • Hundreds of kids came out for the clinic

  • Baseball pros were on hand to help with the event

It all starts with attitude. For 7-year-old Jan Irizarry, baseball isn’t just another sport.

“I’m playing baseball so I can get enough money to go to college," said Irizarry.

The same path his dad took.

“My dad used to be a baseball player and now he’s coach," said Irizarry.

During UCF’s Puerto Rico Baseball Day, he got to play ball with the pros. Seeing people who got their start the same way he did gives him hope that anything is possible.

“It’s gonna be some tough times in life. But you know what if I can overcome it, you can do it too,” Carlos Baerga, former Cleveland Indians All-Star.

And while the road ahead may look more like a diamond, he said he's ready to hit that home run.