On Monday night, news spread that former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Mota had suffered a stroke. Fans were rightfully concerned. A pinch-hitting specialist, he played for more than 20 MLB seasons, was an All-Star in 1973, and finally retired in 1982, but continued serving the team as a coach and later a Spanish-language broadcaster for the Dodgers. He embodied the essence of the team, and so the older Dodgers fans couldn’t help but reminisce about his talents back then. For instance, during the 1977 spring training in his hometown of Santo Domingo, Mota hit a home run and said, “The good lord looks after the good people.”

And he also homered on the last day of that year’s regular season, and interestingly, it happened to be his first home run since 1972. But we finally have some positive news regarding his health. The Dodgers posted on X and wrote: “Last night, Dodger legend Manny Mota suffered a stroke. He is in recovery, where he is responsive to commands and is resting comfortably.” 

Additionally, reports suggest that his son, Jose Mota, also gave an update on his dad while in the hospital. “My father was taken to the hospital and responded well—he reacted quickly to the treatment, and the clot dissolved,” Jose said. We also know that in a conversation with ESPN on Tuesday, he shared that “Dad never lost consciousness during the incident and is currently doing well.”

“He’s alert and responding,” the son revealed. “Today is crucial. We’ll see the results of removing the clot. At his age, it’s difficult to predict, but we hope he can recover all his functions.”

While fans rallied around with love and nostalgia, the franchise’s latest update has left many holding their breath. The veteran’s legacy looms large—a reminder that time spares no legend. He got inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023, and that’s when he stated, “I consider Dodger Stadium my home away from home, and I consider myself to be an adopted son of the Dodger organization,” and true to his words, his legacy was less about statistics and more about an enduring presence that has spanned generations.

For 56 years, he has been a constant figure and transitioned seamlessly from player to coach, broadcaster, and community ambassador. His journey reflects not only his love for the game but also his dedication to the Dodgers, a team he has called home since 1969.

While the Dodgers continue to honor him, Manny Mota himself has taken on the role of celebrating the next generation of baseball talent. He offered high praise and perspective that only decades of experience can provide.

Manny Mota praises Fernando Tatis Jr.

In an era where hot takes fly faster than fastballs, it takes a true legend to drop a truth bomb that actually sticks. Manny, the Dodgers icon who’s seen baseball evolve across decades, isn’t here for polite debates or padded stats. When it comes to Dominican dominance in MLB today, he cuts through the noise. And he’s pointing squarely at Fernando Tatis Jr. with a knowing grin and zero hesitation.

The Dominican Republic has given baseball some of the best players, and one of them is Fernando Tatis Jr. According to Mota from earlier this month, he is the benchmark for players from the island: “With all due respect to the others, Fernando Tatis Jr. does it all on the field.”

Mota acknowledges other players like Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Sandy Alcantara, but he says they can’t compare to what Tatis Jr. does. He calls Tatis Jr. a five-tool player and urges fans to enjoy him while he’s still playing.

That’s high praise coming from a man who’s spent a lifetime watching greatness unfold from the dugout. If Mota says Tatis Jr. is the gold standard, it’s not a hot take—it’s a gospel truth. In a league obsessed with analytics and exit velocity, sometimes the best metric is the eye test from a legend. And Mota’s eyes say: Tatis Jr. isn’t just good — he’s Dominican baseball’s main event.