[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 117 (Friday, July 15, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E739]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING JON JAY FOR HIS IMPECCABLE 12-YEAR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL 
                                 CAREER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARIO DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 15, 2022

  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jon Jay, 
who recently retired after an impeccable 12-year Major League Baseball 
career. Jon's hard work and dedication led him to win a World Series 
Championship in 2011 with the St. Louis Cardinals.
  Born in Miami, and a true product of the baseball fields of South 
Florida, Jon helped lead Christopher Columbus High School to its first 
baseball state title in 2003. He then went on to have a Hall of Fame 
career at the University of Miami. Jon finished his Major League 
Baseball career with an impressive .283 batting average, and--
remarkably--with the highest fielding percentage among all outfielders 
in baseball history.
  Jon has never lost sight of his roots as a proud Cuban-American, 
whose family history is engrained in public service and patriotism. His 
great-grandfather, Justo Salas, was the first Afro-Cuban mayor of 
Santiago de Cuba, and the first Afro-Cuban governor of Oriente 
Province. Jon's grandfather, Enrique Tulio Jay, was a political 
prisoner in Fidel Castro's dungeons for 19 long years.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  July 15, 2022, on page E739, in the third column, the following 
appeared: His great-grandfather, Justo Salas, was the first Afro-
Cuban mayor of Santiago de Cuba, and the first Afro-Cuban governor 
of Oriente Province. Jon's grandfather, Enrique Tulia Jay, was a 
political prisoner in Fidel Castro's dungeons for 19 long years.
  
  The online version has been corrected to read: His great-
grandfather, Justo Salas, was the first Afro-Cuban mayor of 
Santiago de Cuba, and the first Afro-Cuban governor of Oriente 
Province. Jon's grandfather, Enrique Tulio Jay, was a political 
prisoner in Fidel Castro's dungeons for 19 long years.


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 


  After 12 years in Major League Baseball, Jon credits his loving 
family and their tireless support for all his success. I also want to 
congratulate Jon's wife, Nikki, and their beautiful children: Brooklyn, 
Berkley, and Jaxon, for this remarkable achievement. The life of a 
Major League wife and family is not always easy, and I applaud their 
steadfast devotion to Jon and his career.
  Madam Speaker, it is a privilege to congratulate Jon Jay on an 
amazing baseball career and for his continuous dedication to 
representing his community--not just in South Florida, but across the 
country. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this outstanding 
individual.

                          ____________________