Bad Bunny’s Relationship with the MLB
The Puerto Rican musical artist Bad Bunny is very well known for his music around the world. Bad Bunny has won three Grammys and 16 Billboard music awards throughout his musical career. While Bad Bunny is mainly known for his music he also has built a name for himself in the world of baseball.
Bad Bunny has never been shy about supporting different MLB teams and players. In 2022 he participated in the celebrity softball game that takes place before the annual MLB all-star game. That same year Bad Bunny also made an appearance in the home run derby by giving the champion, Juan Soto, a championship necklace. Bad Bunny has also used his love for baseball in his music on multiple occasions. In his 2023 album Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana, which translates to Nobody Knows What's Going to Happen Tomorrow, he name-dropped nine different MLB stars. Those stars included Mike Trout, Reggie Jackson, Bryce Harper, Randy Arozarena, Edwin Díaz, Francisco Lindor, and Albert Pujols. In his most recent album, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, which translates to I Should Take More Photos, he mentions Juan Soto, the New York Yankees, and the New York Mets. This is significant because of the massive Juan Soto free agency deal that was made with the Mets, instead of returning to the Yankees. The song he brings this up in is called NUEVA YoL, and in English, the line about Soto says, “I'm in my zone, I've got no rival, no/ With the Yankees and the Mets, Juan Soto.”
Bad Bunny is involved in the MLB in more than one way because he attempted to start his own agency for MLB players. The agency is called Rimas Sports and it was founded in April 2023. The main position holders are sports executives Jonathan Miranda and Noah Assad, and of course Bad Bunny. Miranda and Assad both applied for agent certification after the agency was started. With the start-up of the agency being so fast and successful, concerns were brought to the MLBPA, which is the Major League Baseball Players Association. The MLBPA opened an investigation regarding the improper benefits given to players through the agency. The investigation led to the association finding evidence that the agency started offering players cash considerations and gifts to leave their current agencies. The agency represents a good amount of MLB players including Ezequiel Tovar, Francisco Álvarez, and Wilmer Flores. Later there were reports of Ronald Acũna Jr. wanting to join the agency for its marketing but not its on-field capacity. There was eventually a five-year ban placed on the agency which Bad Bunny wants to appeal in court.
While Bad Bunny has a complicated relationship with the MLB, it is obvious that he has a love and passion for the sport. In the future, he may try to bring his agency back or just continue to include baseball in his music. Regardless, Bad Bunny will continue to be a big name around the MLB for years to come.
By Adam Berardi