Puerto Rico sports stars react to devastating hurricane

– A.J. Jimenez, Texas Rangers, as told to MLB.com. 

"Just one text or phone call would mean so much right now. I have seen everything on social media. But what hurts most is, I don't know if they are OK, or if they need something. I want to be there with them to see if everything is OK." READ MORE

– Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers head coach, as told to NFL.com.

"Again, we know the situation is very dire there and it would be tremendous to have the support of the people here. As I said, whatever we can do to help out, I think it would be greatly appreciated. [They need] food, water and electricity right now. Those that don't have generators are really struggling up there. Getting fresh water and food obviously is the other concern, and then fuel for the generators and stuff like that."  READ MORE

– J.J. Barea, Dallas Mavericks, as told to the Business Insider.

"It's awful. People are struggling. It's tough, people need a lot of help. You always go to Puerto Rico — after the season I fly in — and you look out the window, and it's beautiful. The water is blue, it's green, there's people moving around. You know, you feel the vibe. Yesterday, you look out the window, and it's dead. It is completely dead."  READ MORE

– Monica Puig, Olympic tennis gold medalist, as told to Sports Illustrated.

‘The entire side of my mom’s family lives in Puerto Rico and I have a lot of friends there that I met from the Olympics. Thankfully my grandparents, my aunts and my uncles are okay. I’m able to communicate with them—as long as they have charged their phones in the car. I follow the governor on Twitter and Instagram, so I’m seeing what he’s doing, where he’s going and which places need more attention than others. Even though my base is in Boca Raton, Fla., Puerto Rico is definitely home for me. In my heart, it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world but unfortunately that beautiful place is unrecognizable at the moment.”  READ MORE

– Francisco Linder, as told to MLB.com.

"They told me that the surroundings look bad, but the houses are OK. Everything around them is very bad. It's sad, but hopefully they can get back on their feet soon. ... I can't wait [to get over then when the season is over]. I've got to help. I've got to find a way to help people. There's no way I can sit here and just not do anything." READ MORE

— Bengie Molina, St. Louis Cardinals, as told to KMOX News Radio, 1120

"They’re about to lose it over there. Their patience is probably running out by now. ...

I wanted to go that same day, I did, I wanted to go that same day and start helping. I did. Obviously there are no flights and nobody could go there. But I wanted to go.

It’s frustrating to play a game that’s so important, you know, for us and for the city of St. Louis. And then go out there and not have it. You know, your head is somewhere else, most of the time, and hoping that your family is all right. But we have to deal with it. That’s the bottom line. ...

I think they have to be desperate. They have to be. There’s no way you’re all this time with no water, no electricity, plus you have the water on your feet too. It hasn’t gone away. They’re probably about to lose it over there. We feel bad for that. We hope and we pray that we can go there as soon as we can." FULL INTERVIEW

— Martin Maldonado, Anaheim Angels, as told to the Orange County Register.

“I felt so great to get that call. It was bad. It was really bad, just thinking how I hadn’t heard from anybody.” READ MORE

— Geovany Soto, Chicago White Sox, as told to the Chicago Tribune

"It was unbelievable. We try to do the best that we can do with the preparation. After you've done everything you just kind of brace yourself and keep good spirits and hope for the best.

The devastation in Puerto Rico is really significant. A lot of dangerous spots and you don't know if there are live lines [with] electricity." READ MORE

Kennys Vargas, Minnesota Twins, as told to the Twin Cities Pioneer Press

“Puerto Rico is destroyed,” first baseman Kennys Vargas said. “A lot of people lost everything. We’re trying to do something up here with the guys to get them food and water to stay alive.

I would say there won’t be baseball in Puerto Rico for one or two years. Not even winter ball. The stadium got destroyed. The community can’t worry about baseball now. It has to take care of everybody. They have to fix people’s lives first.” READ MORE

— Renaldo Balkman, former NBA player, as told to WFTS, Tampa (ABC)

“It gives me goosebumps talking about it ‘cause I went through it. I decided to leave my condo because it was getting real, real, real bad and the winds started picking up. [There was] debris flying everywhere.

“I didn’t want to leave because I knew in some way I could still help. 

What I left behind is desperate people in need [of] water, food, cash - everything." READ MORE

Christian Vazquez, Boston Red Sox, as told to the Boston Globe.

“Here, I’m concentrating on winning the division and winning every day. When I’m out of the ballpark, I’m thinking a lot about [Puerto Rico]. . . . I don’t look [at the pictures], because it’s too sad. The pictures and videos are very sad and disturb me a lot, seeing the pictures of my island destroyed.

“I’ve got to continue playing here, play for my country and for my teammates here.” READ MORE

Jorge Posada, former major leaguer, as told to the Players Tribune.

"But as my dad was making that trip to my sister’s, the things he was seeing and describing to me over the phone almost seemed like they were made up.

He told me that in and around San Juan there are just trees and telephone poles and power lines down everywhere. Concrete poles just cracked in half and were in pieces along the side of the road. And you know those huge steel towers that link up power lines? Those things came crashing down all over the place. So they’re just knocked over, lying there, with all the lines broken off and going every which way.

He said it looked like a giant bomb went off. ...

Almost everyone I’ve talked to down there is missing a roof at this point. They don't know what to do." READ MORE

Pudge Rodrigez, MLB Hall of Fame, as told to the Dallas Morning News.

"All my family is fine, but we have to continue to work hard," Rodriguez said. "Puerto Rico is going through a tough situation right now with no energy, with [no] food. We have been sending a lot of food and a lot of things Puerto Rico needs right now. We are going to be fine. We are going to get better. Puerto Rico is very strong." READ MORE

—  Enrique Hernandez, Los Angeles Dodgers, via his YouCaring page.

“Words can't describe how devastated we feel by the destruction that Maria has caused to our people and our home of Puerto Rico. It could take months/years for the island to recover. Puerto Rico was left completely without power, most lost their homes and have no way of communicating due to loss of coverage. But, we are confident that we will come out of this stronger than ever! Like Puerto Rican's say "en la union está la fuerza" (in the union we find strength). Help us bring strength back to Puerto Rico by donating to this fundraiser.”