Hector Berrios Hustle Pioneer
Hector Berrios is a South Bronx native who rose from street dancing to become one of the great names in the Hustle and later a professional baseball player. As a teenager, he sharpened his skills in clubs and youth centers, eventually performing as part of the four-man Rock team named The Rock Masters, alongside the legendary Latin Symbolics. Later, he and Jacqueline Cruz became Hustle Partners and members of Dance Dimensions, winning televised contests and performing nationwide. Their success earned them a contract on Don Kirschner’s Rock Concert and appearances with icons like Tito Puente at Madison Square Garden.
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Choosing to pursue his other dream, Hector took his Baseball talents to the University of Oklahoma, was drafted by the San Francisco Giants, and later played with the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers. After retiring in 1992, he returned to dance, appearing in Carlito’s Way, contributing choreography to The Cowboy Way, and performing alongside stars like Marc Anthony, Celia Cruz, and Tito Puente.
Today, Hector balances coaching with the Toronto Blue Jays and performing Hustle routines with Stacy Diaz. He is happily married to Claudia Vavela, has three daughters and a young son, and remains committed to mentoring young athletes while honoring his roots in dance. For his achievements, Hector Berrios has been inducted into the Hustle Hall of Fame, alongside his longtime friends Luis Rivera and Willie Estrada.
My Baseball Story
Baseball and Latin Hustle
From Little League through the big leagues, Hector became an all-star, traveling to the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico to compete. In his years in high school, he played for Mike Turo, the winningest baseball coach in NYC history, and became one of his first all-city players. He then attended Connors State College in Oklahoma, where he played for head coach Gary Vaught alongside future big league pitcher Mark Leiter, eventually getting signed by the Major League Baseball (MLB) organization. In 1983, as a center fielder, he earned all-conference honors and was drafted by the San Francisco Giants, but chose to sign with the Kansas City Royals as a pitcher. In his first professional season with the Royals, Hector posted a solid 2.53 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 57 innings.
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Hector then signed with the Detroit Tigers in 1987 and posted a 2.79 ERA with 93 strikeouts in 87 innings, earning a promotion to Double-A the following year. Later on, in 1991, he moved over to the Anaheim Angels and reached Triple-A for the first time. In 1992, he was signed on with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He experienced Big League Camp, sharing a clubhouse with stars like Pedro Martinez, Orel Hershiser, Darryl Strawberry, Eric Davis, Mike Scioscia, and Tommy Lasorda. After being released by the Dodgers and playing his final season with the Chicago Cubs in 1993, during the Puerto Rican Winter League, he suffered a career-ending injury.​
Baseball and Latin Hustle
Hector Berrios the Coach
Transitioning from player to coach, Hector utilizes his experiences and knowledge to become a highly respected and sought after pitching coach. Thus, becoming the founder of Higher Learning Baseball in 1997. His journey from his youth to professional baseball has been marked by perseverance, adaptability, and a passion for the game, making him a well seasoned coach and mentor to many. Throughout his coaching career, he has mentored countless MLB pitchers and teams, helping them develop their skills and achieve their potential both physically and mentally.
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