[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 195 (Friday, December 6, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1551]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING MR. FELIPE `TRES' BARRERA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. VICENTE GONZALEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 6, 2019

  Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. 
Felipe `Tres' Barrera, a member of the Washington Nationals 2019 World 
Series Champions and a Rio Grande Valley Native.
  Tres Barrera is an incredibly talented professional baseball catcher 
for the Washington Nationals. He was born in Eagle Pass, Texas, and 
moved to the Rio Grande Valley when he was 10 years old. Tres played on 
the baseball team for Hidalgo High School his freshman year, winning 
the District 32-3A Most Valuable Player award, before transferring to 
Sharyland High School. At Sharyland High School, Tres played football 
and baseball, and quickly became a standout athlete and student. He was 
selected to two all-state teams, and won the 30-5A Most Valuable Player 
and the All-Valley Player of the Year as a senior. His batting average 
was an astonishing .452, hitting 22 home runs during his time at 
Sharyland High School.
  Tres' incredible work ethic, determination, and sheer talent earned 
him a spot on the renowned baseball team for the University of Texas at 
Austin. As a freshman, Tres was the team's starting catcher, won the 
2014 College Home Run Derby, and led Texas to the College World Series. 
His achievements continued on.
  During his sophomore year, Tres was a vital part of the University of 
Texas' Big 12 championship team, while adding his name to the All-Big 
12 second team. In his junior year campaign, Tres earned the 2016 
Academic All-Big 12 baseball honors and was named an All-Big 12 
honorable mention. He left Texas after his junior year to join the 
minor leagues, but only after walking away with 20 home runs and 106 
runs batted in (RBIs) for the University of Texas at Austin.
  Tres Barrera's hard work and dedication continued for the next three 
years as he played for a number of minor league teams before being 
called up to the Major League Baseball, MLB, on September 8, 2019, for 
the Washington Nationals. Being a member of the Nationals, Tres 
participated in one of the most unlikely runs in the history of 
professional baseball.
  The Nationals' record through 50 games was a poor 19 wins and 31 
losses before they won 74 of their next 122 games. This secured the 
Nationals a wild-card spot in the postseason. The Nationals continued 
their unlikely playoff run until the very end, where they beat the 
Houston Astros in seven games, winning the World Series on October 30, 
2019. On that day, Tres earned himself the coveted World Series ring.
  Madam Speaker, Mr. Tres Barrera worked tirelessly to prove that with 
determination, will power, and commitment, we can accomplish anything 
we set ourselves to do in life. Tres made history, gave young people 
across our country the hope to achieve anything they set their mind to 
and for that I stand here today to recognize him. He is a proud son of 
South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley, and we appreciate him for his 
work and dedication to the Washington Nationals.

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