Mexican WhiteBoy: Uno Interrupts Danny’s Workout Summary & Analysis

1. Danny decides to start mixing strength training into his pitching practice. He hypothesizes that the reason he messed up the tryouts at school is because he doesn’t have much physical strength. He thinks that even if he merely imagines himself as stronger, he will gain the confidence to perform better. Danny’s been doing sit-ups and push-ups for a couple weeks, and already notices a change in his muscle tone. As he begins the day’s crunches, he sees Uno approaching walking toward him.  

2. Uno and Danny greet each other. Danny is apprehensive, but Uno starts telling Danny about the last time he was on the field. He was 12 years old and playing catcher in Little League. A ball hit his mask and broke his nose. As the game stopped and Uno fell to the ground crying, Senior—who was doing a lot of drugs at the time— came out of the stands to scream at Uno for crying. Uno’s mom told Senior to stop, but Senior continued yelling and cursing at both of them. Uno tried to keep playing, but his coach took him off the field. Uno tells Danny that he hasn’t played organized baseball since that day and that his dad has changed since then.

3. Danny invites Uno to join his workout. Uno offers to catch but warns Danny not to throw too hard. As Danny prepares to pitch, he recalls how Uno hurt him. Danny wants to move past it, but he knows Danny’s dad would want him to stand up for himself. Danny starts pitching normally, but he realizes that he really is angry at Uno. He launches a throw as hard as he can that knocks Uno over. Uno is enraged, but Danny isn’t afraid. He feels stronger now than he did before. The two face off momentarily, but Uno smiles after a minute and says Danny can do it again if he wants to.

4. Danny resumes pitching normally to Uno. After a while, Uno tells Danny that he has an opportunity for the two of them to make some money, which he’ll explain when they’re done. Danny looks to the sky for the hawk, but it’s gone. Though he knows it’s not true, Danny imagines that Danny’s dad sends the hawk to check on him and that it returns to Mexico to tell his dad what Danny is up to. He thinks his dad would be proud to see Danny standing up to Uno.