In the News

Both Democratic and Republican teams have new faces on their rosters for the Congressional Baseball Game on June 14, while a few familiar stalwarts are getting ready to say goodbye.

The Democrats, reigning champions after their 8-2 win last year, have just one new addition — Freshman California Rep. Jimmy Gomez, whose district includes Dodger Stadium.

Gomez, who loves to watch baseball, said being part of the team is a better way to make friends than serving on committees.

“Your relationships are built by the committees you’re on and the caucuses you belong to. So it’s difficult to build relationships with people you may not have that much in common with,” he said. “Yeah, you’re both Democrats but one’s from the Midwest, one’s from Pennsylvania, it’s different.”

It’s been a while since he played baseball.

“I hadn’t played fastball baseball since I blew out my elbow trying out for high school baseball in 10th grade, so that was back in the early ’90s,” he recalled. “My arm is a little weak. But my hitting is solid.”

He did play on a softball team while serving in the California Legislature, but he’s not sure what position he’ll play because of his weak arm.

“If they want to keep me in the game because I can hit, then they’ll probably put me in right field because that’s where a lot of hits don’t go to,” he laughed. “If they want to just put me in as a pinch hitter once in a while, I’m good with that too.”

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