Meet Miguel Quintana and Oscar Soria from The Arizona Diamondbacks!

By Diana Prieto-Bernal

The dynamic announcing team of Miguel Quintana and Oscar Soria are the icons of Spanish-language broadcasting for the Arizona Diamondbacks.  For over 15 years they have been working together and doing a sensational job broadcasting professional baseball in Arizona, from ballparks throughout in the United States, and in Mexico. AZLatinos.com interviewed these two gentlemen and they explained their passion for the sport, and the Arizona Diamondbacks organization’s fondness for their Latino fans. 

All 162 D-backs’ regular season games are available in Spanish on ESPN Deportes 710 and JOSE 106.9 FM in Phoenix. Both local radio stations are properties of Entravision Communications. Oscar is in his 15th full season as a sport analyst voice on D-backs Spanish-language broadcasts while Miguel does play by play, as he has done since 1999. Richard Saenz is in his 11th season in the D-backs’ radio booth, working as a fill-in color analyst.

Saenz, who was the marketing coordinator for Hispanic outreach for the Diamondbacks in 1998, invited Miguel to join the broadcast team as the organization’s Spanish announcer. Miguel knew it would improve the announcer team if another Spanish-speaking partner joined him, so he invited Oscar to come on board, and this dynamic duo have been featured on the airways together since then. The fact that they have entertained and informed D-back fans all those years tells you about their passion, dedication and passion for the sport and for the Diamondbacks team.

Miguel Quintana was born in Casa de Janos, Chihuahua.  He moved to Agua Prieta, Sonora at age 7. He lived in that border city for 10 years, and it was there where he became a huge fan of listening to Efrain Martinez from Los Vaqueros de Agua Prieta baseball club. Later in life, Miguel discovered his passion for broadcasting and the love for the game. He is married with seven children: four boys and three girls. He also has three grandchildren.

Oscar Soria was born in Tijuana, Baja California. He resides part-time here in the Valley and part-time in Hermosillo, Sonora, where he also is a broadcast announcer for baseball games. He is married with three children.

In March of this year, the Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) announced that they have expanded their Spanish radio broadcast network to seven stations in Sonora, Mexico and Tucson. All seven stations will carry each D-backs weekend game for a total of 52 games on each station.

The D-backs have partnered with Radio XENY 1270 AM in Nogales for the past three seasons and have expanded to include five additional stations to carry the D-backs’ Spanish broadcasts. The additional stations include: Sin Limites 101.FM (Hermosillo), Fiesta Mexicana 104.9 FM (Obregon), La Tremenda 96.5 FM (Puerto Penasco), Fiesta Mexicana 90.7 FM (Magdalena), Fiesta Mexicana 104.7 FM (Cananea) and Radio Vida 1210 AM (Tucson).

Both Miguel and Oscar agree that Latino fans are much more passionate about baseball, which is due to there being so many more Latino players in the field for the D-backs. This makes it easier to connect and cheer for them, because they relate better to players from their own culture.

Oscar mentions that American football, futbol and basketball are more entertainment sports, while the game of baseball carries tradition with its culture, and is Latino influenced internationally.

The two mentioned that the average age of the Diamondbacks players currently is 29, and these young, talented players have led an amazing season for the team.

Miguel and Oscar realize that they are role models to the young listeners that tune in to Diamondback games. One day they may want to be sports announcers themselves. The two D-backs announcers say they strive to ensure that their professionalism shines in each broadcast while they keep the fans entertained whether the home team is winning or losing.

Both say their broadcast careers are a dream come true because they get to indulge their love for baseball with travel and earning a good living. 

We asked what their motto in life was. Oscar responded that the respect of his audience as a good baseball broadcaster is what truly drives him, and his effort at being the best at what he does is what gives him his endless energy and devotion.

Miguel says he thrives on creating the happiest childhood for all his kids, and that his job allows him to provide pleasant memories of their father to all his seven children.  This personal goal also makes him the best at what he does professionally.  His charisma and natural energetic personality make him a true local celebrity loved and known by many in the Valley.

In terms of marketing to the Latino community, Miguel says the team has also done an incredible job at marketing to Latinos and it is known to be one of the friendliest teams in the MLB (MBL.com). Both announcers speak highly of Derek Hall (President/CEO of the Diamondbacks) and both agree at the phenomenal job that he has done reaching out to Latinos. The multicultural marketing efforts across the board are very effective and have consequently increased attendance for the team’s games, not to mention motivating extraordinary performances from the players.

When the thousands of Latino fans attend games at Chase Field Stadium they feel at home because the prices are reasonable, the atmosphere is welcoming, signs and displays are in English and Spanish, and many of the concessions and stadium staff bilingual and friendly. 

Earlier this year the D-backs celebrated Dia de los Niños (Children’s Day) with a visit to a local hospital by catcher Miguel Montero and a special day at the park for several youngsters from the Si Se Puede learning centers.

One of the most successful marketing campaigns developed by the AZ Diamondbacks is the Luchador character that depicts our Latino culture; this character is accepted by all and loved by both general and Hispanic sports fans.

Miguel and Oscar are active in their off-air time attending and supporting extracurricular activities that show the support of the Diamondbacks for community events. Miguel is the established emcee for the Health Annual Event “VIVE TU VIDA,” hosted by El Concilio De La Salud and produced by Laura Madrid. He also reads in schools and supports Career Days.

Oscar is more involved in clinicas de baseball in the city of Hermosillo, Sonora where recently former star player in the 2001 World Champion Series Luis Gonzales held his annual baseball clinic.

The D-backs recently made their third trip to Mexico within the last seven months to help build connections and relationships with officials and citizens in Mexico. A D-backs contingent traveled to Hermosillo last fall for the Opening Night of Hermosillo Naranjeros and returned again earlier this year for the Caribbean Series.

The D-backs have a long-standing history in Mexico, having played exhibition games in Hermosillo each spring from 2008-10. D-backs President/CEO Derrick Hall sits on the Board of Directors of the Arizona-Mexico Commission and the organization worked closely with the World Baseball Classic to host the first round of the tournament in March. The game between Team Mexico and Team USA drew 44,256 fans, the highest attended game of the entire tournament.

The Latino culture is reflected in many of the Diamondback activities, and both Miguel and Oscar urge fans to support our major league baseball team. To follow the D-backs, visit them on:

Facebook.com/dbacks

Twitter.com/dbacks

Instagram @ dbacks

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E-Mail: dbacks.com/insider

Or simply visit their web site www.dbacks.com

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