Gallery: (1-17-2025) Feature | Not My Identity Al Holguin takes his time walking across the field to step onto the brown pitcher’s mound at Itchy Jones Stadium. His hand is jammed into a bright mint glove. He sways. His index and forefinger rub together before he grabs the baseball. His left arm swings around, the […]
Al Holguin takes his time walking across the field to step onto the brown pitcher’s mound at Itchy Jones Stadium. His hand is jammed into a bright mint glove. He sways. His index and forefinger rub together before he grabs the baseball. His left arm swings around, the ball leaving his fingers and a 91-mile-an-hour pitch crosses the plate. The mint glove is special to Holguin.
One side shows a Bible verse and the other has two zip codes – one for where his parents were born in Mexico and the other for where he was born in Chicago. He added the zip codes as a way to “always have his parents with him.” The Bible verse serves as a reminder of his faith.
Every year, Southern Illinois University spends time recruiting to make their team stronger on and off the field. Holguin, 22, a left-handed pitcher and the only Latino baseball player on his team, takes pride in where he comes from and who he plays for.
After this season wraps up, Holguin’s 18-year baseball career will end. “It will be a bittersweet moment with it coming to an end because I’m going to miss playing,” said Holguin. “But I’m excited because I’m going to continue coaching travel ball so I’m excited to do that.”
Holguin grew up on the southside of Chicago, in a Latino community surrounded by people with shared culture. “Being around people I was familiar with, and I think it’s shaped me into the person I am today in terms of just being able to be with — doesn’t matter who it is — just be around them and be the same person,” he said.
Holguin played two years at South Carolina Upstate and transferred to SIU for his last two years of college after visiting in June 2023. Despite the fact that the largest minority group in the MLB is made up of Hispanic players, Holguin has yet to play on a team with other Latinos.
“It has been tough because in my college career, I’ve been the only Latino every year that I’ve been on a team. But overall, I don’t think it’s been impossible or anything, I’ve loved every second of it,” he said.
Austin Tribby, Holguin’s pitching coach at SIU has seen many players come through in his four years at SIU. When it comes to recruiting, he looks for players who are going to do the basics, throw strikes, compete, and if they have the ability to play at a higher level.
Building a relationship is one of the most important things, giving the coaches the chance to learn about the player they want to bring to their roster. “I love getting to know all aspects of the players that I’m recruiting,” said Tribby.
Tribby started recruiting Holguin two summers ago when he entered the transfer portal. Holguin caught his eye being from Chicago and his stats from his previous school USC Upstate. “After one phone call with Al I knew he’d be a phenomenal addition to the pitching staff and team,” said Tribby. Holguin went for a recruiting visit and committed to SIU the same day.
Holguin came into SIU with a lot of Division I experience and him being a left-handed pitcher comes as a big deal in baseball. He came in knowing what to expect at this level and what was expected of himself to be better and help his teammates as well. “Al brings an infectious personality to the field every single day — everyone gravitates towards him,” said Tribby.
“It’s been really special to watch Al have successes on the field and overcome hardships as well. All while doing that with grace and humility. Al is a great player and an even better person,” said Tribby.
Holguin started playing baseball when he was four years old. It became the game that he was able to adapt to and learn from along the way.
“When I first started it wasn’t pretty. I remember my dad took me to the batting cages and I just started crying uncontrollably, and here we are, last year of college playing college baseball,” said Holguin. “Why baseball, I’d say it’s the game I fell in love with.”
One of Holguin’s biggest motivators is his parents. They are the reason he has been able to play baseball all these years. “My parents have been extremely supportive with missing days from work to take me to my out-of-town tournaments. They’ve had to struggle with sometimes sitting alone because they couldn’t have conversations with other parents because of the language barrier, said Holguin. “That still never stopped them from paying for me to play in the top teams in the state.”
Both of his parents have made it possible for him to play at the Division I level and he gives a lot of his success to them and what they’ve done for him. They still make an effort to watch him play the game he loves.
“My dad has taught me what I have known and continues to help me with my game. My mom did what very few would ever do. In 2020 she moved with me to Cincinnati to allow me to play for an out-of-state travel team, said Holguin.
“With me going to school in South Carolina out of high school, it was tough for them to see me play in person. This fall when they came was the fourth time they were able to see me play at the college level.”
Holguin spent his first season at SIU as a starter. He suffered a shoulder halfway through the season but was able to come back after a few weeks. Although he came back and pitched the rest of the season, he was still in pain and there wasn’t an answer as to what caused it. An MRI eventually showed it was a minor sprain, and he spent the summer doing rehab and was cleared to throw again.
“I honestly don’t know if it was torn or not at some point and I say that because it just sucked to live with that pain. I couldn’t raise my shoulder all the way up, but I still pitched through it with painkillers and cream,” said Holguin. “Someone prayed for it over the summer, and I kid you not all the pain went away. I love telling the story because it was a miracle through His work.”
Alec Nigut, another left-handed pitcher, and one of Holguin’s roommates transferred to SIU at the same time as Holguin and they have been able to build a friendship over the last two years.
Being around someone a lot can help you learn more about them as a person instead of just an athlete. “He brings a certain level of goofiness that I don’t think is matched,” said Nigut.
Holguin and Nigut attend a bible study together once a week. It has allowed them to bond over something outside of baseball. “The bible studies have allowed us to talk about things that aren’t just surface level, but have meaningful conversations about Jesus,” said Nigut.
Aside from his family, God is also a huge part of Holguin’s life inside and outside of baseball. Holguin is not afraid to show it and wants to be a person others can look up to.
He joins a Bible study call once a week with a few of his friends and attends one with some of his teammates. “I just see myself as someone who can be a light to other people around them in terms of letting them know that you don’t have to be perfect to be loved by Him,” said Holguin. “It’s just something I see myself as, like I don’t do it for religion, I don’t do it for attention. I just do it to help others and to be a light to other people.”
Holguin will begin his senior season with the Salukis in February. Throughout that he will not only continue to play for himself but for where he came from and who he really plays for. “This game doesn’t define you. Like I said before it’s a platform that has been able to teach me that my name isn’t defined by the game of baseball but rather it’s something that’s a part of my life.”
