EDITOR'S NOTE: Quotes from Esmerlyn Valdez have been translated from Spanish to English by Altoona Curve teammate Omar Alfonzo.

ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — Baseball is known as America's pastime, harboring one of the top professional leagues in the world.

Many pursue dreams of making it to the big show. While making one of the 30 Major League Baseball teams can provide a huge obstacle to overcome, adjusting to the American lifestyle adds additional challenges.

As players join teams, ranging from the top teams in the MLB to their developmental squads, they rely on talent and determination to rise in the ranks. As the team gets built, the cultural differences spark, especially with Latin American players.

"This is a hard sport, and this is not like Latin America," Altoona Curve catcher and fir

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