refuerzo

16:08 Mar 8, 2015 

The context I gave was from before Bithorn's pro years, so the translation there should use a term reflecting sense 1. I have suggested "substitute" and "back-up" in most occurrences in this passage, rejecting some of the other excellent suggestions precisely because Bithorn was a pitcher. No one expects a pitcher be a starter in every game, so "bench," "utility," and "second-string" are not really applicable (though "bullpen" might be).

Farther along in the book, though, when "refuerzo" is used in the particular context of sense 2, I have recommended the retention of "refuerzo" in Spanish (in italics), with a brief clarification. Contemporary English-language newspaper articles use "foreign" and "import" for this classification, so both terms, each enclosed in quotation marks, are included in that clarification. Thus an Anglophone reader who is familiar with that terminology in English would be able to make the connection with refuerzo.

My thanks to all who contributed to this question, via discussion, reference entries, and suggested answers.

15:57 Mar 8, 2015 

"Refuerzo" in a Caribbean baseball context has two different meanings:
1) Substitute, bench, or back-up player; second-stringer, "B" team, etc.; player available to be inserted into the game when, at any point & for any reason, the manager prefers not to use his starting player. I had this sense in mind when I asked the question.
2) A player who is not native [to Puerto Rico, in this case] but is playing on a native team as, literally, a reinforcement. This is usually a Major-League player from the U.S. (often a "second-stringer" in his home context) whose experience makes him a valuable addition to a winter-league team that may have excellent native-born players but cannot scrape up enough good players for a full roster. The number of refuerzos allowed on each team is limited.

Hiram Bithorn did, in fact, play one winter season (1938-1939) as a refuerzo in the second sense, because, having played in the U.S. as a pro in the minor leagues, he was considered to have superior skills to the other Puerto Rican players, giving his team an unfair advantage.

18:53 Mar 3, 2015 

I've never heard bullpen used that way, but I trust you. Anyway, it looks like Taña and Anthony are on to something here. Learning new stuff every day...

18:25 Mar 3, 2015 

Here is another reference to the term "refuerzos":
https://books.google.com.jm/books?id=iVfhCeJrqWMC&pg=PA166&l...

See page 166: "The Latin Amercian scene evolved into an African American player's market ..... refuerzo system .... foreign players (refuerzos). A refuerzo did not have the luxury of working his way out of a prolonged hitting or pitching slump; it was literally "produce or go home".

Also see pages 170-172 where it speaks of Hiram "Hi" Bithorn.

18:18 Mar 3, 2015 

Right, George, but by extension, the staff of relief pitchers is often referred to as the bullpen, as in, "Chicago needs to strengthen its bullpen." But Bithorn also played 3rd base when he was starting out, so I couldn't use that term in any case.

18:08 Mar 3, 2015 

Jane, whatever you decide, it ain't the bullpen. That's where relief pitchers warm up just before they go on the field, so it would not apply in this case.

17:47 Mar 3, 2015 

I'm going to have to do more research on the term, now that Taña's references show that it's not just an issue of a starting player versus "the other 16 guys." In addition, Bithorn was a pitcher, so I would consider "in the bull-pen," if not for the fact that young pitchers often start out as utility players.