Astros present Bad Bunny with custom jersey

HOUSTON -- Minute Maid Park can seat up to 41,168 fans to watch the Astros play, but for two nights earlier this month, it was turned into a concert venue with a beach theme in center field for one of the most all-time streamed artists in recent history, Bad Bunny.

Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, better known as Bad Bunny, is a reggaeton artist who is in the midst of the World’s Hottest Tour. The Puerto Rican artist has performed in over 300 concerts in his career, but what makes this tour special is playing in the 29 stadiums across the United States and Latin America, including eight MLB ballparks such as Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium and Minute Maid Park.

Not only does this tour allow him to play in front of his many loyal fans in some of the biggest baseball venues, but it has also presented him the opportunity to get to interact with some of the players. After the concert was over in Houston, two Astros players -- catcher Martín Maldonado and pitcher Luis Garcia -- spent time with Bad Bunny backstage.

While visiting, the players presented the artist with an Astros jersey with his name on the back.

“It was a privilege,” Maldonado said in Spanish. “He’s a guy that I have heard his stuff so much, so it was just a blessing to get to talk to him. We talked about everything in Puerto Rico, including the World Baseball Classic, and what he was doing. It was great talking to him.”

It was not the first time Bad Bunny collaborated with Major League Baseball. In July, he played in the All-Star Celebrity Softball game in Los Angeles and had a unique moment when he summoned Hall of Famers Vladimir Guerrero and David Ortiz to pinch-hit for him.

Those are a few of the many relationships that the Puerto Rican artist has with MLB coaches and players, including some of those players who use his tunes as their walk-up songs. One of those players is Maldonado, who has been a fan of the artist since 2016.

“I love the type of music he makes,” Maldonado said. “I was thankful I was able to go see him do his thing and proud of what he has accomplished.”

That same music has allowed Bad Bunny to put on a show to remember in various stadiums, including on consecutive nights at Minute Maid Park. Unique moments included Bad Bunny floating on a little island with a palm tree, singing “Un Coco” and “La Canción,” and a pyro-filled, fast ending with “Después de la Playa.”

“It was incredible,” said Astros hitting coach Alex Cintrón, who also attended the concert. “The talent he has and the way he sings his songs live without stopping is impressive. It’s a complete show and he doesn’t stop singing.”