Like most Puerto Ricans, Luis Vázquez looks at Roberto Clemente as a hero.

The Cubs rookie admires the MLB legend and humanitarian and takes one of his most famous quotes to heart:

“Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don’t, then you are wasting your time on Earth.”

So, a few months after signing his first professional contract in 2017, Vázquez decided to start a foundation that would give back to his hometown of Orocovis, Puerto Rico. That year, he hosted a clinic that offered baseball lessons to the kids of the town of roughly 21,000.

Orocovis is a small town, one that doesn’t have the resources of bigger cities on the island like San Juan or Bayamón. Vázquez experienced that firsthand growing up. His dad would drive him an hour and 20 minutes to play baseball and would lean on the support of neighbors and friends for a car and money to drive him there and back.

That’s why Vázquez wanted to give back.

“I’m giving them the tools that I didn’t have when I was a kid, but I am giving it to them so that they can keep fighting for their dreams, so they can get off the streets and be focused on sports, their studies,” Vázquez said. “Honestly, it’s a source of pride for me to give them all that I didn’t have when I was a little kid.”

This year, Vázquez will once again hold his clinic on Oct. 19 in Orocovis. The free event will provide a baseball clinic to boys and girls 3 years and older and will provide food and other essentials to families in need.

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“I think the youth in Orocovis and Puerto Rico need a lot more help, a lot of sport, a lot of baseball and I’m helping present it,” Vázquez said. “When I was growing up, those people in Orocovis helped me so much. The people in Orocovis and Puerto Rico have helped me so much.

“And now I’m giving them that opportunity so that they can follow those steps and get to where we’re getting to.”

The clinic this year will be a bit different — it’s the first one since Vázquez became a major leaguer — and the second ever from Orocovis.

“There’s more love and enthusiasm,” Vázquez said. “I think this year is definitely gonna be different since I’m in the majors, but the little kids in Orocovis have always seen me as if I was a major leaguer, a hero from Orocovis. So, that’s the most important thing right now.”

And it will continue to honor his inspiration — Clemente.

“I believe he was the creator of all of this,” Vázquez said. “He created all this for Latinos. He’s a hero for all Latinos. He opened so many doors for all of us. To do the same things he did fills me with so much pride. I do it with all my heart and all my humility. That’s what characterizes me. It’s super important for me.”