Mauricio Dubón embraces fatherhood in what became the most unforgettable at-bat of his life—not during a game, but after one. With his wife, Nancy Herrera-Dubón, on the mound at Minute Maid Park, Dubón stepped up to the plate for a pitch that would change everything. He swung, the ball burst into a cloud of blue powder, and the moment became a forever memory.
Nancy sprinted toward him and leaped into his arms. It’s a boy.
Dubón’s close friend and teammate, Yordan Alvarez, and his wife, Monica, watched from the infield. The celebration went beyond the reveal, highlighting the strong friendships between teammates who’ve become like family.
A Friendship Forged in the Minor Leagues
Dubón and Alvarez first crossed paths in 2017 at the MLB Futures Game. Both young Latino players—Dubón from Honduras and Alvarez from Cuba—immediately connected. Though their MLB debuts came in 2019 on different teams, fate brought them together again on the Astros roster in 2022. Their lockers now sit side-by-side, a daily reminder of their shared journey and growing brotherhood.
Despite being older, 30-year-old Dubón often leans on 27-year-old Alvarez for advice, particularly now that he’s navigating fatherhood. Alvarez, already a father of two, doesn’t hesitate to joke around with Dubón, calling him a “real dad now” instead of just a dog dad.
From Marcelo and Cash to Luciano
Before baby Luciano, Dubón and Nancy doted on their two dogs, Marcelo and Cash, like they were their children. Marcelo came into Nancy’s life before Mauricio, but Dubón quickly warmed up to him despite not being a “dog person.” In 2022, the couple added French bulldog Cash to their family while in Los Angeles for a game.
Dubón felt such a strong bond with his dogs that he stitched their names onto his gloves and cleats. Alvarez found this endlessly amusing. But times change. In April, he rummaged through Dubón’s locker to uncover the latest cleats, finally spotting one marked “Luciano.” It’s a subtle shift in Dubón’s priorities—a sign of growth and a new kind of joy.
New Routines and New Perspectives
Being a new parent while playing Major League Baseball isn’t easy. During Spring Training, Dubón began showing up to the ballpark earlier than most, hitting the minor league fields while balancing his time with his newborn.
“He can tell me anything, and I can tell him anything,” Dubón said of Alvarez, who often came early to watch him swing and offer insight. “People always think he’s this serious guy, but he’s one of the nicest people I know.”
Nancy echoed that sentiment. “Yordan is calm and collected, while Mauricio is more expressive. That balance helps him.”
Fatherhood Behind the Scenes
After Opening Day against the New York Mets, Dubón cradled Luciano in the clubhouse—one arm around his son, the other packing his gear. Luciano wore a custom white jacket featuring Mauricio’s photo and the Astros logo. The moment was endearing and symbolic: baseball and family life blended.
Mauricio Dubón embraces fatherhood with a new perspective, one that he believes has made him a better player.
“I don’t care if I go 0-for-4 anymore,” he said. “I can go home and be with my kid instead of overthinking my performance. That peace of mind is everything.”
Fatherly Advice—and a Few Jabs
Alvarez, always quick with a tease, says watching Dubón adjust to fatherhood is funny and familiar. “He’s learning how hard it is to be gone for a week, then come back and realize how much your kid has grown.”
Over dinners with teammates like José Altuve, the conversation often shifts to parenting stories, proving that family ties everything together, even in the competitive world of baseball.
Final Thoughts
RBIs or batting averages don’t just define Mauricio Dubón’s 2024 season. It’s about milestones beyond the diamond—fatherhood, friendship, and the camaraderie that make the Houston Astros clubhouse feel like home. His story reminds us that even in the big leagues, life’s greatest moments happen off the field.