For Swifties and baseball fans, here’s a crossover you didn’t see coming: Taylor Swift‘s influence is hitting the sports world again, and this time, it’s not about her game-day outfits or Travis Kelce. Roberto Campos, a rising star in the Detroit Tigers‘ farm system, just gave the pop icon a shoutout for helping him master English. The 21-year-old Cuban-born outfielder shared his unique story during spring training in Lakeland, Florida, and it’s got everyone buzzing-Taylor included in his MVP lineup?
Campos, who signed with the Tigers in 2019 for a cool $2.85 million bonus, moved to the U.S. from Cuba at just 13. Adjusting to a new country meant tackling a big language barrier, but he found a fun way to learn.
“Thanks, Taylor Swift,” Campos said with a grin, per MLB.com, crediting her catchy lyrics for boosting his English skills. Alongside action movies with subtitles and chats with teammates, Swift’s music-think “Shake It Off” or “Blank Space“-gave him a melodic crash course in the language. Who knew pop hooks could double as vocab lessons?
The Tigers’ No. 23 prospect isn’t shy about his journey. Now 21, he’s coming off a solid 2024 season at High-A West Michigan, hitting .272 with a .342 on-base percentage. “I feel good every day I come here,” he told the Detroit Free Press, speaking mostly solo in a 12-minute interview-no interpreter needed. That’s a huge leap from the kid who defected from Cuba during a tournament and trained in the Dominican Republic before joining Detroit. Swift’s tunes were just one piece of the puzzle, but they clearly struck a chord.
How Swift helped Campos talk the talk
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch is all smiles about Campos’ growth. “He does a lot of things well,” Hinch said, praising his maturity and dugout energy. Campos is set to shine in the Spring Breakout game against Braves prospects on March 16, airing on MLB Network-proof he’s not just a language whiz but a legit talent. And with the Tigers’ farm system ranked tops by MLB Pipeline, his star’s only rising.
Taylor’s impact off the charts is nothing new-her Eras Tour just wrapped as the highest-grossing ever at $2 billion-but helping an MLB hopeful? That’s next-level. Campos’ story is lighting up X, with fans calling it “Swiftie power” and “baseball’s coolest language hack.” Whether he’s swinging for the fences or singing along to “Love Story,” this prospect’s got Swift in his corner.
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