Why MLB Managers Should Speak Spanish

One in four major league baseball players are of Latino descent.  It's a trend that continues to gain momentum, and I suspect that in the next five years that percentage will grow to a third. 

These players often have a difficult time making the transition to playing baseball in the United States because of cultural differences and a language barrier. 

There's not a lot that can be done about the cultural aspect, but wouldn't it make the transition smoother if communication wasn't such an issue?

Most Americans believe that if you live in this country you should speak English—period. 

I agree that should be the ultimate goal, but becoming fluent in a second language takes time.  What are these players supposed to do in the interim? 

Rather than embarrass themselves or give interviews where they sound unintelligent, many Latino players simply shy away from the media attention and public appearances. 

MLB managers should take the initiative to make these players feel more comfortable in their surroundings.  Spanish is fairly easy to learn and the benefits are enormous. 

Not only would the players respect the effort, it would help make the clubhouse a better environment when everyone is on the same page.

I'm not suggesting that MLB managers become "Telemundo" proficient in Spanish overnight, but there are times when a translator may not be readily available or appropriate. 

Some conversations need to be private and one-on-one communication beats third party interpretation every time.  The talent dictates what ancillary tools are needed to be successful. 

For that reason don't be surprised when one in four MLB managers are of Latino descent in the near future.