Al Holguin walks into the team clubhouse to get ready for practice Wednesday, Nov 6, 2024 at Itchy Jones Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois.
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, finding new players to make their team stronger on and off the field. Al Holguin, 22, 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 come to an end.
“I plan on working at a private pharmaceutical company in Cincinnati, OH. 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.”
Al Holguin stretches with the other pitchers after practice Wednesday, Nov 6, 2024 at Itchy Jones Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois.
Holguin grew up on the Southside of Chicago, in a Latino community surrounded by people with shared culture. “Being around people who 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 the University of South Carolina Upstate and transferred to SIU for his last two years of college after making a visit in June 2023.
Al Holguin pitches the ball during a fall game Saturday, Oct 19, 2024 at Itchy Jones Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois.
Al Holguin holds his glove while posing for a portrait Wednesday, Oct 2, 2024 at Itchy Jones Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. "99400 is the ZIP code of where my parents were born and raised in Mexico and 60632 is the ZIP code of where I was born in Chicago. It represents the journey of them coming to America and just a reminder of everything they've done for me. From driving hours in summer ball to giving me the resources to be able to play D1" said Holguin.
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.”
Enrique and Yolanda Holguin watch their son pitch during a fall game Sunday, Oct 27, 2024 at Itchy Jones Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois.
One of Holguin’s biggest motivators are 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 DI 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 give me the opportunity to play for an out of state travel team, said Holguin. “With me going to school in South Carolina out of high school, it has been tough for them to see me play in person. This fall when they came was the fourth time they’ve seen me play at the college level.”
Al Holguin looks over a test after leaving class Wednesday, Nov 6, 2024 at Davies Hall in Carbondale, Illinois. "Class has its pros and cons. Obviously one of the cons is being able to balance it and have a happy medium" said Holguin.
Al Holguin laughs with two of his roommates in their kitchen at his home Monday, Oct 21, 2024 in Carbondale, Illinois. "These are more than my roommates and teammates. They're my brothers who I can rely on for anything and count on them to always be there for me" said Holguin.
Pitcher for SIU Baseball Al Holguin sits on the pitchers mound for a portrait Wednesday, Oct 2, 2024 at Itchy Jones Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois.
Al Holguin stretches out his arms before seeing his athletic trainer Wednesday, Nov 6, 2024 at Banterra Center in Carbondale, Illinois. "My Injury last year, just pitching through it obviously wasn't fun; I am trying to get healthy and stay healthy" said Holguin.
Holguin spent his first season at SIU as a starter. He suffered an injury to his 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 pain killers 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.”
Al Holguin laughs with his athletic trainer Jake Carroll while preparing to get cupping therapy on the arm he pitches with Wednesday, Nov 6, 2024 at Banterra Center in Carbondale, Illinois.
Al Holguin prays with his friend on a Bible study call at home Monday, Oct 21, 2024 in Carbondale, Illinois.
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 also attends one with some of his teammates.
“I just see myself as just 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 just 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.
Al Holguin points up to the sky after walking off the pitchers mound after an outing Sunday, Oct 27, 2024 at Itchy Jones Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. "For me, it’s just getting over that fear (...) doesn’t matter if people are going to agree with you or not, just being proud of it. Jesus died on the cross publicly for me so why wouldn't I show my love for him publicly" said Holguin.
“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.”
— Al Holguin