Knight Fever Podcast: Rafael Bastidas
Rafael Bastidas was hired by the Charlotte Knights in December of 2018 to join the team’s front office staff. Immediately, he helped the Knights connect to the Latino community in Charlotte. With his guidance and leadership, the Knights received more coverage in the Latino community than ever before. The team also embraced the Latino community more than ever before. It was a special season.
Before joining the team’s front office nearly a year ago, he covered the Knights, along with his partner, Ernesto Hurtado, with interviews and stories. That coverage began in 2011 during the team’s days in Fort Mill, SC. Both Venezuelan natives, they told stories of minor league players from Venezuela and other Latino countries.
I first met Rafael and Ernesto in 2012 — my first year with the Knights. I quickly saw how passionate they were to share stories of all Latino players. I made sure they were given the access they needed at each game. They conducted interviews of both the Knights and visiting players at each game and did a great job.
In 2014, when the Knights opened BB&T Ballpark, they began broadcasting Knights game in Spanish from the ballpark’s press box. It was a success. They were even interviewed by Ben Hill of MiLB.
Now, as a full-time member of the Charlotte Knights front office staff, Bastidas has played a key role in connecting the team to the growing Latino population in the Queen City.
He was there to help the team in 2017 when the Caballeros de Charlotte were launched as part of a new Minor League Baseball initiative. A year later, he continued to help it grow.
In 2019, during his first season as a full-time member of the team’s front office, he took the Caballeros de Charlotte to a new level. The team devoted three games to the new brand in 2019 and took a big step in the right direction. Now, there is even more on the horizon for 2020 thanks to his ideas and passion for the Caballeros.
I recently sat down with Rafael for my Knight Fever Podcast.
LISTEN TO MY INTERVIEW WITH RAFAEL BASTIDAS: https://www.espncharlotte.net/knight-fever-10-1-19
