Orestes Kindelán is the "singer" of Septeto Santiaguero

November 3, 2021

The "Drum Major" of the best team in the history of the Santiago Wasps. The former Cuban ballplayer Orestes Kindelán can sing! And now, already far removed from the on-deck circle, batter's box, gloves, bats and balls, he has reappeared behind a microphone, singing a song on an album by the famous Septeto Santiaguero, no less.

Orestes Kindelán, one of the ballplayers most feared bat in hand for his ability to drive in runs, hit home runs and doubles galore, is now a singer. During his time in baseball, Kindelán hit more than 400 home runs, gave more than 2,000 hits and managed to drive in 1,511 runs.

Well, at least he has contributed his share in the performance of the song Los mangos bajitos.

It's not the first time that an internationally recognized Cuban athlete has stood behind a microphone to sing; but as "big" as an athlete, only one other comes to mind: Javier Sotomayor.

The so-called Prince of the Heights and current world record holder in high jump, also ventured into music in the mid-90s. Apparently it didn't go very well for him and he retired.

Since then we hadn't heard of another prominent Cuban athlete behind a microphone; until now that Orestes Kindelán has appeared, checkered shirt in place of athletic wear, accompanying the Septeto Santiaguero.

It could even be a marketing operation and if so, don't be surprised to see Fausto Álvarez or Norge Luis Vera soon with keys and güiro in hand; but no. According to an explanation in a Facebook post by the Santiago group, it is a very specific collaboration by Orestes Kindelán on the Day of National Culture.

"Today, when Cuban baseball is declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation, we are pleased that Orestes Kindelán, the ballplayer who has hit the most home runs in National Series (487), collaborated musically by singing with us the song 'Los mangos bajitos', one of the singles that can be enjoyed in our upcoming CD: Y sigo pa'lante", it reads on Facebook.

The group questioned -from a sports perspective- that while Cuban baseball continues to decline, in the Major Leagues of the USA and Japan (the main baseball circuits worldwide) Cuban ballplayers are stars. Such is the case -to mention just four of them- of José Abreu, Randy Arozarena, Yulieski Gurriel and Yordan Álvarez.

"It seems like a contradiction, but it is not: today, the main leagues of this sport on the planet (USA and Japan), also shine with the talent of Cuban athletes (watch the MLB [Major Leagues] playoff games right now", expressed the Septeto Santiaguero in their post.

We now know that it is not the first time that Orestes Kindelán has taken to a stage, as some years ago he used to sing at the Peña del Menú of José Aquiles Virelles as a full-fledged son singer.

The song Los mangos bajitos is a creation of the lead voice of the Septeto, the Santiago native Inocencio Heredia, and is the first song that Orestes Kindelán records in a studio.