‘So many different cultures’

Take a look around the Winnipeg Goldeyes clubhouse and one thing quickly becomes evident: this is quite the international school of Fish.

Eight different countries are represented on the current roster of 25 players, which might just make them the United Nations of the American Association.

“So many different cultures. It’s good to have all of them,” outfielder Roby Enriquez told the Free Press on Wednesday prior to his team facing the Kane County Cougars at Blue Cross Park.

“It’s a lot of fun, being with guys from around the world. You learn about language and food, experience different personalities. It’s a blessing to have them here on one team.”

Enriquez was born in the city of Carolina, Puerto Rico, and is now in his third season with the Goldeyes. The 29-year-old is acting as an unofficial tour guide to some of his new teammates who are experiencing Winnipeg for the first time. He believes this is an ideal city to serve as host for such a diverse squad.

“It’s a perfect place to have a team like that,” he said, noting the wide variety of cultures and restaurants that are part of our DNA.

In terms of sheer numbers on the Goldeyes, Americans lead the way with 13 players. Three of them — Minnesota’s Max Murphy and California’s Mitch Lambson and Kevin Garcia — now call Winnipeg home, joining five other born-and-raised Canadians on the club. In that sense, it’s a 10-8 split for the North Americans.

Things get downright tropical after that.

Winnipeg has two players from Aruba in OF Jiandido Tromp and IF Ray-Patrick Didder, one from Bermuda (IF/OF Adam Hall, who now resides in Ontario as is essentially a ninth Canadian), one from the Dominican Republic (P Willian Suarez), one from Japan (P Ryo Kohigashi), one from the Netherlands (P Arij Fransen) and Enriquez representing Puerto Rico.

There’s no question baseball is a global sport, with the World Baseball Classic serving up the latest reminder. Winnipeg’s roster is, more than ever, a reflection of that.

“I’m still trying to get to know all these guys. But we’re talking in a lot of different languages,” Tromp said with a laugh.

The 32-year-old slugger is in his first season with Winnipeg, which was recommended to him by fellow Aruban Dayson Croes, a two-time All-Star with the Goldeyes who won the league’s rookie of the year title in 2025 and is now in the San Francisco Giants organization.

“I’m very grateful to be here,” said Tromp, who had four RBIs through Winnipeg’s first four games to lead the team. “This is a nice city. Big buildings. It’s a good spot to be, and I’m hoping to help the team win here.”

It also helps his comfort level to have a fellow countryman on the team in Didder, who is back for a second season with the Goldeyes.

“It feels good to speak my own language. We can communicate a lot, help each other become better and have a good season,” said Tromp. “I’ve played against him since I was like five years old. We’re a small island, so everybody knows everybody. Now it’s the first time we’re on the same club team.”

Tromp has never achieved his dream of reaching Major League Baseball, getting as high as Triple-A with the Philadelphia Phillies organization. Now, he’s essentially playing out of a lifelong love for the sport.

“My body is good, my mind is good, and this is what I’m meant to do,” he said. “I’m going to keep doing this as long as I can.”

Although he’s only been here for a couple weeks, Tromp has already enjoyed some of Winnipeg’s worldwide cultural offerings.

“I’ve been to a Colombian place, I’ve been to an Indian place. I’m for sure going to try to get to as many as I can,” he said.

Filling the belly by going on a winning streak would also be a welcome development.

“I think most of it is mental,” said Tromp. “We have a good team. It’s early. We know we have adjustments to make. We will make them, hopefully sooner rather than later. Every day is a new day. “

Kohigashi, who hails from Kyoto, Japan, already has one year of Canadian baseball under his belt, having spent last season with the Quebec Capitales of the Frontier League. That’s helped the 28-year-old lefty reliever make a quick adjustment to Winnipeg despite being so far from home.

“I’m looking forward to trying to advance my baseball career,” said Kohigashi, who has rookie status in this league after previously playing several seasons in Australia.

“This is a good, experienced league. They have some good hitters and have some pitchers with high velocity.”

His hope is to follow in the footsteps of so many American Association players and land a contract with a MLB organization.

“I kind of miss the family (back in Japan), but I’m used to it now,” said Kohigashi.

Enriquez said one of the things he loves about the Goldeyes is how quickly you can feel at home in the organization.

“I love the way they treat you here. The people are really nice, the fans respect you as a player sand root for you. And the front office, the people that work here, the players, the coaches — it’s like a family,” he said.

“And we have a great sleeper bus and hit the road a lot, so we get that bonding in together. I’m blessed to be back here. I really love it, honestly. And the food. I love the food in Canada.”

Although the Goldeyes have stumbled out of the gate, Enriquez is feasting at the plate with a team-leading seven hits through four games. He believes it’s only a matter of time before the team collectively figures it out.

“We’ve got a great group of guys,” he said. “And it’s by coming together that we’re going to win.”

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Mike McIntyre
Reporter

Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike.

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