“We’re All Brothers”: Exploring Bonding Strategies Among Professional Baseball Players of Diverse Backgrounds

This article seeks to understand the mechanisms through which professional baseball players of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds create bonds with each other. Utilizing interviews with 22 individuals including players, coaches, and team personnel, the study aims to elucidate the nuances of cultural navigation and comprehension within the baseball context. Employing social-identity theory as a framework, the authors underscore the necessity for players to adopt a mindset conducive to linguistic experimentation and humor, viewing each other as individuals beyond cultural labels and embracing the diversity inherent in their respective backgrounds. The pivotal role of cultural understanding in fostering camaraderie among teammates is highlighted, emphasizing the significance of mutual respect and empathy in transcending language and cultural barriers in the professional baseball realm.