René del Río Rizco

<p>René del Río Rizco was a Cuban sports broadcaster and commentator, recognized by generations of baseball fans for his work in radio and television.</p><p>He began his career at Radio Surco, the provincial station in Ciego de Ávila, before expanding his reach through Radio Habana Cuba. He later joined the sports department at Tele Rebelde, calling national and international competitions.</p><p>He became well known for his restrained broadcasting style and his signature call on fly balls: "Fly al center... está dominado" ("Fly to center... it's caught"), a phrase closely associated with his name among generations of listeners. He worked alongside his brother Everildo del Río, also a broadcaster at Radio Surco.</p><p>After leaving Cuba, he lived for a time in Venezuela before settling in Miami, where he spent his final years and where he died in July 2026.</p>