Amid scandal, is MLB headed for an international draft?
As the search for the next Dominican baseball phenom intensifies, the tragic death of teenager Ismael Ureña Pérez could be the latest symptom of a failing system. Tatiana Fernandez Geara for ESPN
SAN LUIS, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC -- Two pillar candles sit on the front porch of a modest home, adorning a framed photograph of a teenager named Ismael Ureña Pérez. Beside it are two of Ismael's wooden bats and a used pair of his red cleats, the only article of clothing his mother kept. She emptied his drawers and threw out the rest.
"It was just too hard to look at every day," Iris Pérez said through tears.
One night two summers ago, Ismael returned home from a local baseball academy and vowed never to go back. The next morning, his family says, Ismael's urine was red and his skin was jaundiced. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he was placed in intensive care for three days before being transferred to a medically induced coma. Within 48 hours, on July 25, 2024, Ismael died.
His family believes his organs failed after he was repeatedly injected with performance-enhancing drugs at the academy. For months, his death swept the Dominican Republic, dominating headlines and sparking outrage across a nation that has long grappled with the exploitation of its baseball-playing minors.
Latin America's pipeline of young, promising baseball players has long drawn the attention of major league teams and their money, creating a system of stars but also of widespread corruption. Many now believe the system has become unsustainable. Change, in some form, is necessary. Preliminary talks about Major League Baseball's next collective bargaining agreement are expected to take place this month, and one of the biggest debates -- aside from the merits of a salary cap -- will center on reforming an international market riddled by age fraud, steroid use and illegal handshake agreements made with players at increasingly younger ages.
MLB officials believe the only solution is an international draft, which, the thinking goes, would stop the free-for-all in which people affiliated with teams approach handlers and street agents and offer them money to steer players to their clubs. Prominent members of the MLB Players Association counter that the best recourse is stricter enforcement of those illegal agreements, and that the issues have escalated largely because the league has failed to consistently punish wrongdoers.
"Everything is messy," a team executive who has spent years scouting in the Dominican Republic said. "It's messy because we're making it messy, because we won't f---ing regulate it, and it just keeps going and going."
"It was just too hard to look at every day," Iris Pérez said through tears.
One night two summers ago, Ismael returned home from a local baseball academy and vowed never to go back. The next morning, his family says, Ismael's urine was red and his skin was jaundiced. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he was placed in intensive care for three days before being transferred to a medically induced coma. Within 48 hours, on July 25, 2024, Ismael died.
His family believes his organs failed after he was repeatedly injected with performance-enhancing drugs at the academy. For months, his death swept the Dominican Republic, dominating headlines and sparking outrage across a nation that has long grappled with the exploitation of its baseball-playing minors.
Latin America's pipeline of young, promising baseball players has long drawn the attention of major league teams and their money, creating a system of stars but also of widespread corruption. Many now believe the system has become unsustainable. Change, in some form, is necessary. Preliminary talks about Major League Baseball's next collective bargaining agreement are expected to take place this month, and one of the biggest debates -- aside from the merits of a salary cap -- will center on reforming an international market riddled by age fraud, steroid use and illegal handshake agreements made with players at increasingly younger ages.
MLB officials believe the only solution is an international draft, which, the thinking goes, would stop the free-for-all in which people affiliated with teams approach handlers and street agents and offer them money to steer players to their clubs. Prominent members of the MLB Players Association counter that the best recourse is stricter enforcement of those illegal agreements, and that the issues have escalated largely because the league has failed to consistently punish wrongdoers.
"Everything is messy," a team executive who has spent years scouting in the Dominican Republic said. "It's messy because we're making it messy, because we won't f---ing regulate it, and it just keeps going and going."
Neighborhood children play on the baseball field near Pérez's home. Sources told ESPN that pre-deals are being signed in the Dominican Republic with prospects as young as 11. Tatiana Fernandez Geara for ESPN
OF THE 948 players on Opening Day rosters this season, 153 hailed from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, two countries that consistently produce the most foreign-born talent in the major leagues. Almost all of them arrived there through the international system, most notably Juan Soto, Ronald Acuña Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Fernando Tatis Jr. -- four stars who have collected 17 All-Star appearances and are now on contracts worth a combined $1.7 billion. Between 2018 and 2019, Soto, Acuña, Guerrero and Tatis emerged in the major leagues after being plucked out of the Dominican Republic and Venezuela as teenagers, originally agreeing to deals ranging from $100,000 to $3.9 million.
Their success made the race to identify the next crop of Latino stars fiercer, at a time when international-bonus-pool limits allowed teams to project how much money would be available to them several years in advance. The early deals that trigger a litany of other problems escalated because of it.
International prospects can't officially sign until they turn 16, but major league teams have been striking illegal handshake deals with players -- known locally as pre-acuerdos, or pre-deals -- at increasingly younger ages, currently as early as 11 years old, multiple sources throughout the industry told ESPN.
Said one longtime scout: "How can you possibly project a 12-year-old?"
"The industry is moving too fast," said Jonathan Peralta, an attorney who represents amateur players in the Dominican Republic, "but it's moving too fast for everybody."
Foreign players are about three times less likely to reach the majors than those who come through the domestic draft, according to data maintained by a longtime international scouting director. But the sheer volume of players who can be signed at bargain rates, and the massive windfall when even one of them hits, has prompted teams to beef up their scouting staffs, erect sprawling academies and, according to sources, attempt to lock players in with verbal agreements long before they're eligible to obtain contracts.
"It's straight lunacy," said Junior Noboa, executive director of the Dominican Republic's baseball commissioner's office. "I spent almost 30 years signing players. Never did I think you'd start seeing 12-, 13-year-old kids signing."
Buscones -- a colloquial term for those who identify players, train them, then eventually act as intermediaries with major league teams -- have been operating in the Dominican Republic since the 1970s. Up until about 2012, the process of acquiring international amateurs -- those who don't hail from the United States, Canada or Puerto Rico, and thus are not subject to the domestic draft -- was widely described as a "free-for-all," with no restrictions on money and scant knowledge about how to either scout players or verify their identities.
Signing bonus pools were first introduced that year, providing teams with an allotment of cash -- starting with $2.9 million in 2012 and rising as high as $8.04 million in 2026 -- that could only be used on international talent. The pools brought -- in theory, at least -- structure. Hard caps, introduced in 2017, brought predictability, allowing teams to accurately project how much money they would be allowed to spend several years in advance.
Now, sources said, the corruption is often too deep-seated to track.
As laid out by an MLB front office executive with extensive experience in Latin America, it begins when a buscón finds a prospective player at around the age of 10, sometimes even younger, and essentially shops him to different academies. Tools need to be developed quickly, which is where steroids or falsified birth certificates -- or both -- can come in. The trainer from the academy needs money to cover the cost of developing the player, which brings loan sharks into the equation. Those loan sharks, sources confirmed to ESPN, take up to an additional 20% of an eventual signing bonus from the player's family, on top of the 30% to 50% that goes to the trainer.
Because of the widening gap in age -- not to mention talent -- between when pre-deals are struck and when players can officially sign, the team deals have become harder to make stick, sources with knowledge of the transactions said. Even when players develop as expected, teams often pull out because a medical concern popped up in a physical; or because their front office turned over, prompting a change of heart; or because their signing bonus pools wound up lower, either through signing a free agent tied to a qualifying offer or exceeding the luxury tax threshold.
Often, though, the reason is much simpler -- to exert leverage in an effort to trim signing bonuses.
"They're like cockfighting owners," one trainer said. "The only difference is cockfighting owners stay true to their word."
When teams pull out weeks or even days before signing day, a litany of issues follow: Trainers lose money and are often forced to close academies because of unpaid debts. Parents owe loan sharks money they can't pay back. Kids are recycled into the following year's signing class, by which point many are deemed too old.
Teams have been pulling out of agreements more frequently in recent years, numerous agents and trainers have said -- a practice that three years ago triggered a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Angels by two teenage prospects in the Dominican Republic. But team officials allege that trainers are gaming the system, too, shopping players to other clubs despite preexisting agreements in an attempt to get more money. A prominent example occurred in January 2025, when Roki Sasaki signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers and several Dominican and Venezuelan players jumped to other teams that suddenly had unused pool space previously earmarked for the Japanese pitcher, according to sources.
"The level of trust has almost evaporated," another high-ranking team executive said. "On both sides."
That mistrust has become a major part of what promises to be a bitter labor fight.
Their success made the race to identify the next crop of Latino stars fiercer, at a time when international-bonus-pool limits allowed teams to project how much money would be available to them several years in advance. The early deals that trigger a litany of other problems escalated because of it.
International prospects can't officially sign until they turn 16, but major league teams have been striking illegal handshake deals with players -- known locally as pre-acuerdos, or pre-deals -- at increasingly younger ages, currently as early as 11 years old, multiple sources throughout the industry told ESPN.
Said one longtime scout: "How can you possibly project a 12-year-old?"
"The industry is moving too fast," said Jonathan Peralta, an attorney who represents amateur players in the Dominican Republic, "but it's moving too fast for everybody."
Foreign players are about three times less likely to reach the majors than those who come through the domestic draft, according to data maintained by a longtime international scouting director. But the sheer volume of players who can be signed at bargain rates, and the massive windfall when even one of them hits, has prompted teams to beef up their scouting staffs, erect sprawling academies and, according to sources, attempt to lock players in with verbal agreements long before they're eligible to obtain contracts.
"It's straight lunacy," said Junior Noboa, executive director of the Dominican Republic's baseball commissioner's office. "I spent almost 30 years signing players. Never did I think you'd start seeing 12-, 13-year-old kids signing."
Buscones -- a colloquial term for those who identify players, train them, then eventually act as intermediaries with major league teams -- have been operating in the Dominican Republic since the 1970s. Up until about 2012, the process of acquiring international amateurs -- those who don't hail from the United States, Canada or Puerto Rico, and thus are not subject to the domestic draft -- was widely described as a "free-for-all," with no restrictions on money and scant knowledge about how to either scout players or verify their identities.
Signing bonus pools were first introduced that year, providing teams with an allotment of cash -- starting with $2.9 million in 2012 and rising as high as $8.04 million in 2026 -- that could only be used on international talent. The pools brought -- in theory, at least -- structure. Hard caps, introduced in 2017, brought predictability, allowing teams to accurately project how much money they would be allowed to spend several years in advance.
Now, sources said, the corruption is often too deep-seated to track.
As laid out by an MLB front office executive with extensive experience in Latin America, it begins when a buscón finds a prospective player at around the age of 10, sometimes even younger, and essentially shops him to different academies. Tools need to be developed quickly, which is where steroids or falsified birth certificates -- or both -- can come in. The trainer from the academy needs money to cover the cost of developing the player, which brings loan sharks into the equation. Those loan sharks, sources confirmed to ESPN, take up to an additional 20% of an eventual signing bonus from the player's family, on top of the 30% to 50% that goes to the trainer.
Because of the widening gap in age -- not to mention talent -- between when pre-deals are struck and when players can officially sign, the team deals have become harder to make stick, sources with knowledge of the transactions said. Even when players develop as expected, teams often pull out because a medical concern popped up in a physical; or because their front office turned over, prompting a change of heart; or because their signing bonus pools wound up lower, either through signing a free agent tied to a qualifying offer or exceeding the luxury tax threshold.
Often, though, the reason is much simpler -- to exert leverage in an effort to trim signing bonuses.
"They're like cockfighting owners," one trainer said. "The only difference is cockfighting owners stay true to their word."
When teams pull out weeks or even days before signing day, a litany of issues follow: Trainers lose money and are often forced to close academies because of unpaid debts. Parents owe loan sharks money they can't pay back. Kids are recycled into the following year's signing class, by which point many are deemed too old.
Teams have been pulling out of agreements more frequently in recent years, numerous agents and trainers have said -- a practice that three years ago triggered a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Angels by two teenage prospects in the Dominican Republic. But team officials allege that trainers are gaming the system, too, shopping players to other clubs despite preexisting agreements in an attempt to get more money. A prominent example occurred in January 2025, when Roki Sasaki signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers and several Dominican and Venezuelan players jumped to other teams that suddenly had unused pool space previously earmarked for the Japanese pitcher, according to sources.
"The level of trust has almost evaporated," another high-ranking team executive said. "On both sides."
That mistrust has become a major part of what promises to be a bitter labor fight.
Amaurys Nina, who runs a baseball academy near Santo Domingo, trained future major leaguers Rafael Devers and Eloy Jiménez. Tatiana Fernandez Geara for ESPN
AMAURYS NINA'S ACADEMY sits behind a 20-foot steel gate in San Isidro, a suburb of Santo Domingo. An armed guard mans the front entrance at all times. Inside are three perfectly manicured fields and a newly constructed, two-story office building that oversees the complex, which houses as many as 55 players at a time. Nina has been developing prospects in the Dominican Republic for 13 years, Rafael Devers and Eloy Jiménez the most well known among them. He used to be adamantly against a draft. Now, he said, "I'm 50-50."
A draft, Nina acknowledged, would hurt his country economically, given how many earn a living off baseball players. But it would end the exploitative pre-deals.
"I've been thinking of ways we can improve the system, and the only way I understand that would bring order to this situation is a draft," Nina said. "Not that a draft suits us. But a draft might be what we need."
MLB has long been pushing for an international draft, selling it as the only way to truly eliminate pre-deals, but the MLBPA continues to stress that better solutions exist -- mainly, by punishing the teams that engage in wrongdoing under the current system.
MLB persuaded the union to engage in talks on an international draft for the first time during bargaining sessions in the spring and summer of 2022. The two sides had until July 25 of that year to agree on what amounted to a swap -- an international draft for the abolishment of the qualifying-offer system, which has often suppressed free agent salaries. But the deadline came and went without an agreement. Three years later, while addressing the media during spring training in February 2025, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred once again voiced his support for a draft, touting its "transparency."
"The inability to make secret deals because you don't know who's going to draft whom is really the best systemic approach to this problem of rules violations when they get to the signing market," Manfred said then.
Opponents of an international draft are quick to identify a litany of potential issues associated with one, ranging from dwindling opportunities -- MLB's last draft proposal was capped at 20 rounds, with those not selected restricted to $20,000 bonuses -- to varying conditions among baseball-playing countries and, in contrast to Manfred's point, the likelihood of kickbacks between scouts and trainers continuing to corrupt the process. Some -- not just union officials, but also prominent agents and trainers -- still believe the current system can be salvaged if policed better. The most cynical believe the league has let it rot by allowing teams to continually strike pre-deals, forcing a draft to become the only option.
"Let's be clear -- the disorder that we have in the international market isn't simply the responsibility of the trainers, like MLB wants everyone to believe," one prominent Dominican trainer said. "They have on their hands, with draft or no draft, a way to improve this system. The disloyalty in the game is in their hands, not ours, because they're the ones that implement the rules."
Former MLBPA executive director Tony Clark, who resigned from his post amid scandal two months ago, echoed a similar sentiment in March 2025.
"At the end of the day, you can't agree to a pre-acuerdo unless a team proposes one," Clark said then. "That means there's an opportunity to find out who is proposing them and make a determination based on that as to how the system needs to function moving forward. But there's not an interest in doing it, despite knowing that that's happening, and instead default back to a draft, a draft, a draft."
Almost all the agreements between teams and players announced at the beginning of each international signing period were made verbally years in advance, often leaving no paper trail. League officials have long said that a fundamental lack of evidence makes imposing penalties on teams for striking pre-deals virtually impossible. Manfred said the league spends "tens of millions of dollars" annually to chase wrongdoing -- mostly on drug-testing staff and age-and-identification verification, according to a spokesperson. But numerous scouts told ESPN the league should invest far more resources to investigate pre-deals, at the very least to thwart teams from continually pursuing them.
A draft, Nina acknowledged, would hurt his country economically, given how many earn a living off baseball players. But it would end the exploitative pre-deals.
"I've been thinking of ways we can improve the system, and the only way I understand that would bring order to this situation is a draft," Nina said. "Not that a draft suits us. But a draft might be what we need."
MLB has long been pushing for an international draft, selling it as the only way to truly eliminate pre-deals, but the MLBPA continues to stress that better solutions exist -- mainly, by punishing the teams that engage in wrongdoing under the current system.
MLB persuaded the union to engage in talks on an international draft for the first time during bargaining sessions in the spring and summer of 2022. The two sides had until July 25 of that year to agree on what amounted to a swap -- an international draft for the abolishment of the qualifying-offer system, which has often suppressed free agent salaries. But the deadline came and went without an agreement. Three years later, while addressing the media during spring training in February 2025, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred once again voiced his support for a draft, touting its "transparency."
"The inability to make secret deals because you don't know who's going to draft whom is really the best systemic approach to this problem of rules violations when they get to the signing market," Manfred said then.
Opponents of an international draft are quick to identify a litany of potential issues associated with one, ranging from dwindling opportunities -- MLB's last draft proposal was capped at 20 rounds, with those not selected restricted to $20,000 bonuses -- to varying conditions among baseball-playing countries and, in contrast to Manfred's point, the likelihood of kickbacks between scouts and trainers continuing to corrupt the process. Some -- not just union officials, but also prominent agents and trainers -- still believe the current system can be salvaged if policed better. The most cynical believe the league has let it rot by allowing teams to continually strike pre-deals, forcing a draft to become the only option.
"Let's be clear -- the disorder that we have in the international market isn't simply the responsibility of the trainers, like MLB wants everyone to believe," one prominent Dominican trainer said. "They have on their hands, with draft or no draft, a way to improve this system. The disloyalty in the game is in their hands, not ours, because they're the ones that implement the rules."
Former MLBPA executive director Tony Clark, who resigned from his post amid scandal two months ago, echoed a similar sentiment in March 2025.
"At the end of the day, you can't agree to a pre-acuerdo unless a team proposes one," Clark said then. "That means there's an opportunity to find out who is proposing them and make a determination based on that as to how the system needs to function moving forward. But there's not an interest in doing it, despite knowing that that's happening, and instead default back to a draft, a draft, a draft."
Almost all the agreements between teams and players announced at the beginning of each international signing period were made verbally years in advance, often leaving no paper trail. League officials have long said that a fundamental lack of evidence makes imposing penalties on teams for striking pre-deals virtually impossible. Manfred said the league spends "tens of millions of dollars" annually to chase wrongdoing -- mostly on drug-testing staff and age-and-identification verification, according to a spokesperson. But numerous scouts told ESPN the league should invest far more resources to investigate pre-deals, at the very least to thwart teams from continually pursuing them.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is expected to make an international draft part of the upcoming talks with the players' union on a new collective bargaining agreement. AP Photo/John Raoux
The last major penalty in the international market was handed out more than eight years ago, when former Atlanta Braves general manager John Coppolella was banned for life and forced to forfeit 13 international signees for circumventing signing limits.
"We catch people," Manfred said last February, "but we don't catch everybody."
Another potential problem is a significant lack of Latino representation in key positions of the players' union, which several players, agents and executives point to as evidence that the MLBPA either isn't knowledgeable enough on the subject or doesn't care enough to explore it closely. The MLBPA consists of one player representative for each of the 30 teams. But during the last round of negotiations, only one, Venezuelan-born infielder Miguel Rojas, was Latino. Another, Puerto Rican shortstop Francisco Lindor, who attended high school in Florida and came through the domestic draft, served on the executive subcommittee.
At the moment, Minnesota Twins pitcher Pablo Lopez stands as the only Latino player rep. A spokesperson for the union, which leaves the selection of reps to the players on each team, added that there are seven Latino reps on minor league teams, in addition to several former Latino players who work in player services. The MLBPA began representing minor league players three years ago, but that does not include those in the Dominican Summer League. And it certainly doesn't include the amateurs in the international market.
"Our union's diversity is a key part of our strength, and we represent players from nearly 18 countries around the world," MLBPA interim executive director Bruce Meyer said in a statement. "The Players Association regularly solicits and receives input from players across our entire membership, at all levels and backgrounds, and not limited to players on our executive board. Our positions at the bargaining table are a direct reflection of that feedback, including on international issues.
"While our elected positions are open to all players, we view representation as far more than just a title on an executive board. In that spirit, our player services staff and leadership are in constant communication with players on issues big and small, and in connection with any negotiations, we seek and receive input in numerous ways from Latino players on international market proposals and other issues."
"We catch people," Manfred said last February, "but we don't catch everybody."
Another potential problem is a significant lack of Latino representation in key positions of the players' union, which several players, agents and executives point to as evidence that the MLBPA either isn't knowledgeable enough on the subject or doesn't care enough to explore it closely. The MLBPA consists of one player representative for each of the 30 teams. But during the last round of negotiations, only one, Venezuelan-born infielder Miguel Rojas, was Latino. Another, Puerto Rican shortstop Francisco Lindor, who attended high school in Florida and came through the domestic draft, served on the executive subcommittee.
At the moment, Minnesota Twins pitcher Pablo Lopez stands as the only Latino player rep. A spokesperson for the union, which leaves the selection of reps to the players on each team, added that there are seven Latino reps on minor league teams, in addition to several former Latino players who work in player services. The MLBPA began representing minor league players three years ago, but that does not include those in the Dominican Summer League. And it certainly doesn't include the amateurs in the international market.
"Our union's diversity is a key part of our strength, and we represent players from nearly 18 countries around the world," MLBPA interim executive director Bruce Meyer said in a statement. "The Players Association regularly solicits and receives input from players across our entire membership, at all levels and backgrounds, and not limited to players on our executive board. Our positions at the bargaining table are a direct reflection of that feedback, including on international issues.
"While our elected positions are open to all players, we view representation as far more than just a title on an executive board. In that spirit, our player services staff and leadership are in constant communication with players on issues big and small, and in connection with any negotiations, we seek and receive input in numerous ways from Latino players on international market proposals and other issues."
Junior Noboa, the Dominican Republic's baseball commissioner, registered more than 400 academies in a three-month period -- a number, he says, that just begins to scratch the surface. Tatiana Fernandez Geara for ESPN
IN THE WAKE of Ismael Pérez's death, Junior Noboa spearheaded a system by which his office would work to regulate academies, forcing facilities to meet certain requirements based on location, living conditions, education programs and drug testing. From November 2024 to January 2025, Noboa said, they had registered more than 400 academies, though he acknowledged it barely scratched the surface.
"Right here, on the concrete," Noboa said, pounding the table of his second-floor office inside Estadio Quisqueya in Santo Domingo. "Come in the morning, and you'll see how many kids are practicing in the parking lot. That right there is an academy. These days, more than 500 kids are signed out of the Dominican Republic [each year]. What does that tell you? A bunch of kids are released. And there's a large percentage of those kids who say they want to stay in baseball and they want to put together a baseball academy."
Steroids have historically been readily available over the counter in any Dominican pharmacy and training facility that possesses the means to access them, regardless of age and without even a doctor's note. Anti-doping programs have been nonexistent within its numerous baseball leagues.
Late last summer, Dominican President Luis Abinader enacted the first law that would explicitly prohibit the use of PEDs in the country. It provided a set of penalties -- ranging from five to 20 years of imprisonment and between 10 and 30 times the local minimum wage in fines, in addition to the threat of closing businesses and revoking licenses -- for anyone known to have prescribed, administered or in any way facilitated the use of prohibited controlled substances, including steroids.
The law is scheduled to go into place in August, but whether it ultimately makes a difference -- a source of considerable doubt given the lack of an established anti-doping program in the country and the amount of resources required to conduct drug testing at that scale -- remains to be seen.
Under MLB's current CBA, players are subject to unlimited, randomized drug tests after they sign their first pro contracts. But only a limited number must comply with tests before then. Those who are designated "Level 2" under the CBA, a term used to describe the top 150 international amateur players based on an internal ranking, are subject to random drug tests before signing with a team, according to the current CBA.
There is also mandatory testing through an eight-year-old program in which independent trainers from other countries, including the Dominican Republic, allow MLB to conduct regular, unannounced drug testing of players in their academies. MLB says it conducts between 500 and 1,000 unannounced random tests under the program every year, at times more, while also educating players and their families about the dangers of PEDs.
League officials tout the positivity rates in the Dominican Summer League, stating it dropped from 6.1% to 2.9% from 2005 to 2006, when MLB began to test and educate players, and has been below 1% each of the past 13 years. But those same officials acknowledge that it doesn't necessarily speak to amateurs taking steroids before they sign.
One international scouting director believes around 80% of those who sign out of the Dominican Republic are given steroids when they're between the ages of 11 and 13 to attain pre-deals, then start to wean off leading up to when they can officially sign contracts and enter MLB's testing program. An agent who represents a lot of players from the Dominican Republic believed that number to be too high, instead guessing it might be around 30%. But, he added: "I know it's significant."
In a statement to ESPN, MLB said it has "dedicated significant resources to pre-employment drug testing and education to players in the Dominican Republic and through Latin America." But league officials also believe little can be done until local law enforcement agencies truly find a way to crack down on the availability of PEDs in their country. Some of those same Dominican government officials counter that MLB needs to crack down on teams striking the pre-deals that help trigger the use of steroids in the first place. And while MLB counters that an international draft is the only remedy, the MLBPA fervently disputes it.
To many, it has become a vicious cycle.
"It's like they just talk through each other," one international scouting director said. "And like always, these kids get left behind."
"Right here, on the concrete," Noboa said, pounding the table of his second-floor office inside Estadio Quisqueya in Santo Domingo. "Come in the morning, and you'll see how many kids are practicing in the parking lot. That right there is an academy. These days, more than 500 kids are signed out of the Dominican Republic [each year]. What does that tell you? A bunch of kids are released. And there's a large percentage of those kids who say they want to stay in baseball and they want to put together a baseball academy."
Steroids have historically been readily available over the counter in any Dominican pharmacy and training facility that possesses the means to access them, regardless of age and without even a doctor's note. Anti-doping programs have been nonexistent within its numerous baseball leagues.
Late last summer, Dominican President Luis Abinader enacted the first law that would explicitly prohibit the use of PEDs in the country. It provided a set of penalties -- ranging from five to 20 years of imprisonment and between 10 and 30 times the local minimum wage in fines, in addition to the threat of closing businesses and revoking licenses -- for anyone known to have prescribed, administered or in any way facilitated the use of prohibited controlled substances, including steroids.
The law is scheduled to go into place in August, but whether it ultimately makes a difference -- a source of considerable doubt given the lack of an established anti-doping program in the country and the amount of resources required to conduct drug testing at that scale -- remains to be seen.
Under MLB's current CBA, players are subject to unlimited, randomized drug tests after they sign their first pro contracts. But only a limited number must comply with tests before then. Those who are designated "Level 2" under the CBA, a term used to describe the top 150 international amateur players based on an internal ranking, are subject to random drug tests before signing with a team, according to the current CBA.
There is also mandatory testing through an eight-year-old program in which independent trainers from other countries, including the Dominican Republic, allow MLB to conduct regular, unannounced drug testing of players in their academies. MLB says it conducts between 500 and 1,000 unannounced random tests under the program every year, at times more, while also educating players and their families about the dangers of PEDs.
League officials tout the positivity rates in the Dominican Summer League, stating it dropped from 6.1% to 2.9% from 2005 to 2006, when MLB began to test and educate players, and has been below 1% each of the past 13 years. But those same officials acknowledge that it doesn't necessarily speak to amateurs taking steroids before they sign.
One international scouting director believes around 80% of those who sign out of the Dominican Republic are given steroids when they're between the ages of 11 and 13 to attain pre-deals, then start to wean off leading up to when they can officially sign contracts and enter MLB's testing program. An agent who represents a lot of players from the Dominican Republic believed that number to be too high, instead guessing it might be around 30%. But, he added: "I know it's significant."
In a statement to ESPN, MLB said it has "dedicated significant resources to pre-employment drug testing and education to players in the Dominican Republic and through Latin America." But league officials also believe little can be done until local law enforcement agencies truly find a way to crack down on the availability of PEDs in their country. Some of those same Dominican government officials counter that MLB needs to crack down on teams striking the pre-deals that help trigger the use of steroids in the first place. And while MLB counters that an international draft is the only remedy, the MLBPA fervently disputes it.
To many, it has become a vicious cycle.
"It's like they just talk through each other," one international scouting director said. "And like always, these kids get left behind."
Pérez's parents and siblings visit his grave at Cristo Salvador Cemetery every Sunday afternoon. His birthdate has been painted over. Tatiana Fernandez Geara for ESPN
ISMAEL PERÉZ WAS a shy kid who hated having his picture taken but loved playing shortstop. He admired Lindor and often mimicked Elly De La Cruz, who grew up just 40 miles away from Ismael in Sabana Grande de Boyá. He dreamed, like so many others, of building a better life for his family.
"Ismael was a very smart kid, very motivated," Ismael's father, Inoel, said. "He was obsessed with baseball. His whole thing was to get us out of here. At 5, 6 a.m. he was out here already, training. He was obsessed with baseball. And he always told me his dream was to get to the major leagues. He would say, 'Papi, I'm going to get you out of here.'"
Inoel can no longer sleep past 2 a.m. The last time he heard his son's voice, Ismael was on a hospital bed wailing desperately, "Abrázame, Papi! Abrázame!" (Hug me, Daddy! Hug me!) The memory of those cries still keeps Inoel up at night.
"All I want is justice for my boy," he said.
Ismael was just 14 when he died, according to the family, though even that is unclear. The birthdate on his gravesite has been painted over, suggesting that he, like so many of the other Dominican prospects who aspire to reach the major leagues, might have shaved a year or two off his age in hopes of appealing to scouts. (One of Ismael's brothers, Joel, denied that Ismael's birthdate was falsified, instead saying that the cemetery wrote the incorrect year and the family was told to erase it because "people kept asking questions about it.")
Ismael's family and their legal representatives allege Ismael was given performance-enhancing substances at the academy of a former professional pitcher named Yordy Cabrera, who has denied any responsibility. Cabrera, who referred ESPN to his lawyer when reached for comment, denied injecting Ismael with the steroid boldenone in an Instagram post on Nov. 19, 2024, saying that he had "absolutely nothing to do" with his death.
Ismael attended Cabrera's academy alongside his two brothers, who say they were also given injections daily but were told they merely contained "vitaminas," a description they believed at the time. Joel, 22, quit baseball shortly after Ismael's death. He initially trained his 19-year-old brother, Esmeilin, but he has since quit, too, honoring the wishes of a mother who pleaded with them to give up the sport in the wake of Ismael's death. In Iris' mind, the economy around baseball took the life of one of her sons. She didn't want it to take another.
"He was willing to do anything," Iris said, clutching another framed photograph of Ismael. "That's what drove him to his death."
In November 2024, Diario Libre, one of the largest newspapers in the Dominican Republic, obtained a copy of private laboratory tests performed on Ismael hours before his death that showed liver failure, among the more common side effects of long-term steroid abuse, according to medical experts surveyed by ESPN. But the results of an autopsy performed by the National Institute of Forensic Sciences has yet to be made public. A spokesperson for the district attorney's office, which oversees that department, did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
The lab results revealed by Diario Libre 17 months ago, which were also reviewed by ESPN, showed significantly elevated blood ammonia and liver enzyme levels consistent with liver failure. One of the liver's main functions is to metabolize drugs, such as anabolic steroids, and eliminate them from the body. MLB medical director Dr. Gary Green, speaking broadly on the subject, said steroids that are consumed orally have a greater effect on the liver, but high amounts of injections can also greatly impact it.
Cabrera's lawyer, Domingo Fabian, countered that Ismael died of hepatitis B, a viral liver infection. Fabian told ESPN his client is "completely innocent," saying the family is attempting to blackmail Cabrera and "disparage his name" while adding that they only filed a lawsuit after Cabrera declined to pay them. Fabian alleged Ismael was at Cabrera's academy for only three days; Ismael's family says he had been attending since he was 8.
"Ismael was a very smart kid, very motivated," Ismael's father, Inoel, said. "He was obsessed with baseball. His whole thing was to get us out of here. At 5, 6 a.m. he was out here already, training. He was obsessed with baseball. And he always told me his dream was to get to the major leagues. He would say, 'Papi, I'm going to get you out of here.'"
Inoel can no longer sleep past 2 a.m. The last time he heard his son's voice, Ismael was on a hospital bed wailing desperately, "Abrázame, Papi! Abrázame!" (Hug me, Daddy! Hug me!) The memory of those cries still keeps Inoel up at night.
"All I want is justice for my boy," he said.
Ismael was just 14 when he died, according to the family, though even that is unclear. The birthdate on his gravesite has been painted over, suggesting that he, like so many of the other Dominican prospects who aspire to reach the major leagues, might have shaved a year or two off his age in hopes of appealing to scouts. (One of Ismael's brothers, Joel, denied that Ismael's birthdate was falsified, instead saying that the cemetery wrote the incorrect year and the family was told to erase it because "people kept asking questions about it.")
Ismael's family and their legal representatives allege Ismael was given performance-enhancing substances at the academy of a former professional pitcher named Yordy Cabrera, who has denied any responsibility. Cabrera, who referred ESPN to his lawyer when reached for comment, denied injecting Ismael with the steroid boldenone in an Instagram post on Nov. 19, 2024, saying that he had "absolutely nothing to do" with his death.
Ismael attended Cabrera's academy alongside his two brothers, who say they were also given injections daily but were told they merely contained "vitaminas," a description they believed at the time. Joel, 22, quit baseball shortly after Ismael's death. He initially trained his 19-year-old brother, Esmeilin, but he has since quit, too, honoring the wishes of a mother who pleaded with them to give up the sport in the wake of Ismael's death. In Iris' mind, the economy around baseball took the life of one of her sons. She didn't want it to take another.
"He was willing to do anything," Iris said, clutching another framed photograph of Ismael. "That's what drove him to his death."
In November 2024, Diario Libre, one of the largest newspapers in the Dominican Republic, obtained a copy of private laboratory tests performed on Ismael hours before his death that showed liver failure, among the more common side effects of long-term steroid abuse, according to medical experts surveyed by ESPN. But the results of an autopsy performed by the National Institute of Forensic Sciences has yet to be made public. A spokesperson for the district attorney's office, which oversees that department, did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
The lab results revealed by Diario Libre 17 months ago, which were also reviewed by ESPN, showed significantly elevated blood ammonia and liver enzyme levels consistent with liver failure. One of the liver's main functions is to metabolize drugs, such as anabolic steroids, and eliminate them from the body. MLB medical director Dr. Gary Green, speaking broadly on the subject, said steroids that are consumed orally have a greater effect on the liver, but high amounts of injections can also greatly impact it.
Cabrera's lawyer, Domingo Fabian, countered that Ismael died of hepatitis B, a viral liver infection. Fabian told ESPN his client is "completely innocent," saying the family is attempting to blackmail Cabrera and "disparage his name" while adding that they only filed a lawsuit after Cabrera declined to pay them. Fabian alleged Ismael was at Cabrera's academy for only three days; Ismael's family says he had been attending since he was 8.
Ismael Ureña Pérez's parents Inoel Ureña (left) and Iris Pérez hope change comes soon, so other families won't have to experience what they have. Tatiana Fernandez Geara for ESPN
Ismael's parents initially took his case to the local prosecutor's office themselves but "were not paid attention to," said Russell Aracena, one of the family's lawyers. Aracena and his legal team filed a formal complaint later that summer, but the case wasn't taken on until around the middle of November, when Diario Libre wrote about Ismael's death. His story gripped the nation, ultimately helping to trigger Noboa's academy checks and, according to sources in the country, providing local officials with a final push to finally attempt to regulate steroids.
Héctor Gómez, one of the most prominent baseball reporters in the Dominican Republic, described Ismael's case as "the drop that overflowed the cup."
"This case exploded," Gómez said. "There's been recognition of similar cases, but they didn't have this type of exposure. This one had the exposure, and the parents were also willing to talk."
Near Christmas 2024, the family's legal team filed a complaint against Olga Diná Llaverias, national director for the department of boys, girls, adolescents and family for the attorney general's office, for acting negligently in response to the initial complaint. The next six months consisted of little movement, prompting a march to be held at the state capitol the week of June 16. Hundreds of people gathered then to demand that the results of the autopsy be revealed, but nothing has happened.
Aracena said Ismael's mother still calls him in tears almost daily, hoping to hear something.
Her wait continues.
"We're not after money," Joel said. "All we want is justice, and on top of that, for this not to happen to any other kid -- so no family suffers like we have."
WRITTEN BY: Alden Gonzalez
@aldengonzalez
ESPN's Jorge Castillo and Juan Recio contributed to this report.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/48370191/mlb-2026-international-draft-cba-talks-labor-dominican-republic-fraud-abuse-steroids-broken-deals
Héctor Gómez, one of the most prominent baseball reporters in the Dominican Republic, described Ismael's case as "the drop that overflowed the cup."
"This case exploded," Gómez said. "There's been recognition of similar cases, but they didn't have this type of exposure. This one had the exposure, and the parents were also willing to talk."
Near Christmas 2024, the family's legal team filed a complaint against Olga Diná Llaverias, national director for the department of boys, girls, adolescents and family for the attorney general's office, for acting negligently in response to the initial complaint. The next six months consisted of little movement, prompting a march to be held at the state capitol the week of June 16. Hundreds of people gathered then to demand that the results of the autopsy be revealed, but nothing has happened.
Aracena said Ismael's mother still calls him in tears almost daily, hoping to hear something.
Her wait continues.
"We're not after money," Joel said. "All we want is justice, and on top of that, for this not to happen to any other kid -- so no family suffers like we have."
WRITTEN BY: Alden Gonzalez
@aldengonzalez
ESPN's Jorge Castillo and Juan Recio contributed to this report.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/48370191/mlb-2026-international-draft-cba-talks-labor-dominican-republic-fraud-abuse-steroids-broken-deals
This article is based on my experiences and observations playing in college and professional baseball along with dozens of Dominican and Latin players. This is in no way a criticism, but rather my comparison, of both Dominican and American baseball culture and development. The discussion started with a simple tweet. Allow me to expand further on this tweet, and the implications for player development.
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The Stats
Even on the surface, the differences between the US and the Dominican Republic are stark. The Dominican is home to roughly 10.5 million people, compared to the 319 million in the United States.
In 2015, 83 out of 750 players on opening day were Dominican (compared to 520 US-born), accounting for roughly 11 percent of the major leagues. To put this in perspective, there is one Dominican big leaguer for every 63,000 people, compared to one American big leaguer for every 307,000. This means that the Dominican Republic produces major league talent at about 5 times the rate of the US.
In the minor leagues, it’s not uncommon to see even higher numbers. By my count, 44% of players in the first two levels of the White Sox minor league organization are Dominican-born, and that number climbs to well over 60% at these early levels if you take into account other foreign born players as well (Venezuela, Mexico, Puerto Rico, etc…).
However you slice it, these numbers are staggering, especially when you consider the sheer amount of resources and coaching available to the majority of American-born athletes.
Many American parents drop thousands of dollars per year on lessons, travel ball teams and equipment in the hopes of advancing their sons’ careers, while Dominican players largely get by without fancy equipment or coaching.
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Money ≠ Advanced development
If we further analyze the discrepancy based on big league players produced per dollar spent, the numbers are mind-numbing. The average annual adult salary in the DR is just under $5,000, compared to just under $40,000 in the US. Living at or below the poverty line leaves far less, if any, disposable income for equipment, lessons, etc.
Compare this to a dirt-cheap American high school travel team fee ($1,200/year), one $50 lesson per month ($600/year), just one glove or bat per year (~$199) and without even taking into account travel expenses, you’re looking at over $2000 per year per American kid that has even a passing interest at playing high school or college baseball.*
So how does the DR produce MLB talent at 5 times the rate of the US (and pro talent at closer to 10 times the rate), all while spending easily 10 times (and probably more like 20 or 30x) less per year on the athletes’ development?
Either much of the US is doing something very wrong from a developmental perspective, or the Dominican is doing something very right. As you may have guessed by now, it’s actually a bit of both.
Here are my top 4 reasons why I believe the Dominican Republic (and other Latin countries) pump out prospects far better than the US:
*I didn’t have access to quite those types of resources growing up, so I’m not saying you have to spend that much money to develop, but this is overwhelmingly “the norm” for many American kids nowadays.
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#1 They don’t want it, they need it.
This is just basic human psychology. If your family is struggling at or below the poverty line and you are offered a way to take care of your family for life, wouldn’t you work harder than if you grew up with a relatively comfortable life? Maybe your American parents had financial struggles, but you never had to worry if food would be on the table. Maybe your parents got sick, but you probably didn’t have to worry if they would get proper medical care or risk dying from curable illnesses. Of course, these are generalizations. I grew up far from privileged so I understand that this doesn’t describe every American or Dominican.
A strange thing happens when you flip the switch from want to need. When you want to succeed, you may align your intentions with the long-term goal, but your actions are easily derailed. I want to gain 20 pounds quickly becomes “I’d rather go out with my friends, sleep in and skip breakfast.”
When you need something, you’ll stop at nothing to make that goal a reality. There is no other choice. You can’t slow down, even for a second. In this way, desperation is one of the most powerful motivators.
This is why entrepreneurs talk about the need to live off ramen noodles and struggle for a time, just to understand that feeling. This is why coaches always talk about getting “comfortable being uncomfortable.” Being comfortable is a surefire path towards mediocrity.
I’m not saying every Dominican has an exceptional work ethic, or that every American is content and lazy. But just recognize the average living situations for what they are and the impact it might have on normal human psychology.
But hey, maybe you’re a super motivated American kid. What else sets the Dominican system apart?
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#2 They focus on developing tools over winning games
Want to get off the island? Throw with everything you’ve got like your idol: Pedro. Swing out of your shoes to hit dingers like Cano. Everyone is competitive – that’s human nature – but the Dominican baseball culture is tool-centric too. You can’t throw 92 or hit a ball 400 feet by age 18? You’re probably not getting signed.
Pedro the Goat
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This is why in American pro ball there is almost an expectation of young Dominicans being “unpolished” when they arrive in rookie ball. You see hard-throwing, free-swinging athletes who are a product of this culture. While this is seen by many as a critique, let’s not forget that it got them there, and that it’s rare to see a Dominican in pro ball who didn’t sign for at least $50-100,000, which is potentially life-changing money. They’ve already won, in many ways, just by being there.**
Are these generalizations? Sure. But, bear with me just a while longer all you offended 82 mph strike-throwers.
**While many do, not every Dominican is lucky enough to sign for money. I can recall one instance where a good friend / Dominican teammate didn’t have money to fly home when his mother died during the season. We passed a hat around the locker room until there was enough to send him home for a few days to be with the rest of his family. Still other players would send meal money home to family rather than spend it on themselves, prompting some organizations to just issue meal vouchers to their players instead.
--
#3 Talent hotbeds and motor learning through imitation
An interesting phenomenon that exists in the baseball world is the existence of talent “hotbeds.” In the US, we’re talking about areas like Georgia, Florida, Texas and Southern California that crank out a disproportionately high crop of premium talent year after year, just like the Dominican. While factors like population density and year-round warm weather no-doubt contribute to these numbers on some level, let’s examine it from two additional angles: competition and motor learning.
--
CompetitionBoth on a micro (team) and macro (league) scale, competition breeds a higher caliber of athlete. As the caliber of players reaches a certain threshold, this creates a positive feedback loop – better players push everyone else to train and compete harder just to keep up (i.e. just to make a Varsity team in high school), which creates even more high caliber players. Furthermore, players who might otherwise be dominating lesser geographical areas can’t take their foot off the gas pedal, or they know that success will be short-lived. An 84 mph high school pitcher may go undefeated in Iowa and, satisfied, stop pushing. That same pitcher in Southern California might struggle just to make his high school’s JV team, forcing him to keep pressing and improving himself.
Side note: as a high school player who didn’t come from this type of hotbed, and where 85 mph meant you were the league ace, it became very important for me to use objective metrics to judge myself against. If I knew the numbers that players at the next level were achieving, I could train for and compare myself against those. I certainly wouldn’t make it if I just compared myself to my current level of competition.
--
Motor learning through imitationOne of the primary ways in which motor learning occurs is through imitation (1). In other words, we can trace back higher level throwing, hitting and other baseball-specific movement patterns to an athlete’s individual expression of the patterns he was exposed to over the course of his development (and in particular, during the very early stages of development, as once the general patterns are learned, these patterns are then further reinforced, and to some extent refined, through repetition).
Put simply, athletes who are surrounded by higher level athletes (and patterns) tend to have a better opportunity and chance of developing higher level patterns themselves. Athletes who are surrounded by non-competitive, low level patterns from a young age are at a massive disadvantage if their goal is to acquire high-level patterns.
Imagine child A growing up in small town America, learning to play catch with the dad below, and only seeing the patterns expressed by other athletes in his intramural little league.
Child B grows up in a minor league locker room, learns to hit and throw with elite players and observes and watches these patterns for a decade. It’s no mystery who will end up with the better patterns 999 times out of 1,000.
This point applies to any baseball hotbed, including the Dominican, but also American hotbeds like those mentioned above. “Excellence breeds excellence” is therefore not only a true statement – it’s science.
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#4 Other factors
To pretend that these and only these factors account for the differences in US and Dominican baseball achievement would be false. I’ll touch briefly on a couple of these.
--
PEDs / Age FabricationWhile both cultures do have PED-related issues, a larger differentiator is age fabrication, which is extremely difficult if not impossible to regulate for the MLB. However, this practice is well known by pro organizations and most simply don’t care if the prospect is actually 16 or 19 years old if the on-field product is adequate.
I know Latin players who openly share their real names and ages with teammates, but are or were forced to portray a false identity (often by their agents) in order to attempt to be a more desirable prospect to their respective organizations or earn a larger bonus at signing.
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Anthropometry Longer limbs/ shorter torsos (or “high butt” as Buck Showalter calls it) may lend itself to better leverages and energy transfer for throwing or hitting. Not only do longer relative legs and arms directly improve leverages, but because the primary function of the torso in hitting/throwing is to stiffen to effectively transfer kinetic energy between the lower and upper half, it’s possible that shorter torsos may also aid velocity via minimizing lost energy during this transfer.
In other words, two 6’4” pitchers are not two 6’4” pitchers. Pitcher A may have a 6’2” wingspan, a long torso, and short legs relative to his height, while Pitcher B may have a 6’6” wingspan, a short torso and long legs relative to his height (potentially more advantageous for throwing/hitting). Scouts have known this for decades, often describing the ideal pitcher’s body as “all arms and legs.” Below is one example of a 6’2″ pitcher with a 6’8″ inch wingspan, followed by a 6’6″ pitcher with a 6’2″ wingspan. Height is therefore just a crude approximation for levers and proportions.
Is this even relevant? Hard to say without data. While there is data showing anthropometric differences, on average, between African, Mexican and Caucasian Americans*, I uncovered no such data for Dominicans, making this possibility purely speculative.
Jeurys Familia (Dominican Republic) and his long levers.
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*In this particular study on ethnicity and skeletal structure, the authors concluded “blacks have longer legs and shorter trunks than whites, Asians have longer trunks and shorter legs than whites, [Mexican americans] have similar body proportions as whites, but they are shorter.” (2)
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What We Can Learn from Dominican Success
Let’s summarize what we’ve discussed, and how you can apply it to either your own or your athletes’ development in order to improve your results.
> Learn the difference between want vs. need (easier said than done – if you grew up comfortable and without a fire under your ass, the first step is to figure out your why).
> You don’t need fancy tools (if resources are limited, pour the majority of them into development, not gear, gimmicks and showcases).
> Your pitching/hitting coach is probably unnecessary (again, unless tool development is their priority, stop working on balance points, high cocked positions and towel drills. Train to move athletically and throw the crap out of the ball).
> Focus on tool development over stats/winning games (understanding what scouts and college coaches actually do and don’t look for helps direct training efforts towards those goals)
> Surround yourself with high caliber athletes (if you live in a non-baseball state, consider playing higher level summer ball out of state, visiting elite training facilities, and making sure you’re the softest throwing/weakest person in the room as often as possible).
> Fabricate your age, learn Spanish and get a spray tan (okay, I’m just kidding about this one).
> Understand your body / levers (again, you can’t do much to change this, but understanding genetic advantages/disadvantages is good information to have in building your training plan)
As baseball continues to grow internationally, it raises the collective competitiveness of baseball greatly. Latin American players bring a toolsy swagger to the higher levels of the game that didn’t just appear out of thin air – it’s largely learned behavior, and a good number of American players could learn a thing or two from it.
WRITTEN BY: Ben Brewster
https://treadathletics.com/dominican-domination/
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The Stats
Even on the surface, the differences between the US and the Dominican Republic are stark. The Dominican is home to roughly 10.5 million people, compared to the 319 million in the United States.
In 2015, 83 out of 750 players on opening day were Dominican (compared to 520 US-born), accounting for roughly 11 percent of the major leagues. To put this in perspective, there is one Dominican big leaguer for every 63,000 people, compared to one American big leaguer for every 307,000. This means that the Dominican Republic produces major league talent at about 5 times the rate of the US.
In the minor leagues, it’s not uncommon to see even higher numbers. By my count, 44% of players in the first two levels of the White Sox minor league organization are Dominican-born, and that number climbs to well over 60% at these early levels if you take into account other foreign born players as well (Venezuela, Mexico, Puerto Rico, etc…).
However you slice it, these numbers are staggering, especially when you consider the sheer amount of resources and coaching available to the majority of American-born athletes.
Many American parents drop thousands of dollars per year on lessons, travel ball teams and equipment in the hopes of advancing their sons’ careers, while Dominican players largely get by without fancy equipment or coaching.
--
Money ≠ Advanced development
If we further analyze the discrepancy based on big league players produced per dollar spent, the numbers are mind-numbing. The average annual adult salary in the DR is just under $5,000, compared to just under $40,000 in the US. Living at or below the poverty line leaves far less, if any, disposable income for equipment, lessons, etc.
Compare this to a dirt-cheap American high school travel team fee ($1,200/year), one $50 lesson per month ($600/year), just one glove or bat per year (~$199) and without even taking into account travel expenses, you’re looking at over $2000 per year per American kid that has even a passing interest at playing high school or college baseball.*
So how does the DR produce MLB talent at 5 times the rate of the US (and pro talent at closer to 10 times the rate), all while spending easily 10 times (and probably more like 20 or 30x) less per year on the athletes’ development?
Either much of the US is doing something very wrong from a developmental perspective, or the Dominican is doing something very right. As you may have guessed by now, it’s actually a bit of both.
Here are my top 4 reasons why I believe the Dominican Republic (and other Latin countries) pump out prospects far better than the US:
*I didn’t have access to quite those types of resources growing up, so I’m not saying you have to spend that much money to develop, but this is overwhelmingly “the norm” for many American kids nowadays.
--
#1 They don’t want it, they need it.
This is just basic human psychology. If your family is struggling at or below the poverty line and you are offered a way to take care of your family for life, wouldn’t you work harder than if you grew up with a relatively comfortable life? Maybe your American parents had financial struggles, but you never had to worry if food would be on the table. Maybe your parents got sick, but you probably didn’t have to worry if they would get proper medical care or risk dying from curable illnesses. Of course, these are generalizations. I grew up far from privileged so I understand that this doesn’t describe every American or Dominican.
A strange thing happens when you flip the switch from want to need. When you want to succeed, you may align your intentions with the long-term goal, but your actions are easily derailed. I want to gain 20 pounds quickly becomes “I’d rather go out with my friends, sleep in and skip breakfast.”
When you need something, you’ll stop at nothing to make that goal a reality. There is no other choice. You can’t slow down, even for a second. In this way, desperation is one of the most powerful motivators.
This is why entrepreneurs talk about the need to live off ramen noodles and struggle for a time, just to understand that feeling. This is why coaches always talk about getting “comfortable being uncomfortable.” Being comfortable is a surefire path towards mediocrity.
I’m not saying every Dominican has an exceptional work ethic, or that every American is content and lazy. But just recognize the average living situations for what they are and the impact it might have on normal human psychology.
But hey, maybe you’re a super motivated American kid. What else sets the Dominican system apart?
--
#2 They focus on developing tools over winning games
Want to get off the island? Throw with everything you’ve got like your idol: Pedro. Swing out of your shoes to hit dingers like Cano. Everyone is competitive – that’s human nature – but the Dominican baseball culture is tool-centric too. You can’t throw 92 or hit a ball 400 feet by age 18? You’re probably not getting signed.
Pedro the Goat
--
This is why in American pro ball there is almost an expectation of young Dominicans being “unpolished” when they arrive in rookie ball. You see hard-throwing, free-swinging athletes who are a product of this culture. While this is seen by many as a critique, let’s not forget that it got them there, and that it’s rare to see a Dominican in pro ball who didn’t sign for at least $50-100,000, which is potentially life-changing money. They’ve already won, in many ways, just by being there.**
Are these generalizations? Sure. But, bear with me just a while longer all you offended 82 mph strike-throwers.
**While many do, not every Dominican is lucky enough to sign for money. I can recall one instance where a good friend / Dominican teammate didn’t have money to fly home when his mother died during the season. We passed a hat around the locker room until there was enough to send him home for a few days to be with the rest of his family. Still other players would send meal money home to family rather than spend it on themselves, prompting some organizations to just issue meal vouchers to their players instead.
--
#3 Talent hotbeds and motor learning through imitation
An interesting phenomenon that exists in the baseball world is the existence of talent “hotbeds.” In the US, we’re talking about areas like Georgia, Florida, Texas and Southern California that crank out a disproportionately high crop of premium talent year after year, just like the Dominican. While factors like population density and year-round warm weather no-doubt contribute to these numbers on some level, let’s examine it from two additional angles: competition and motor learning.
--
CompetitionBoth on a micro (team) and macro (league) scale, competition breeds a higher caliber of athlete. As the caliber of players reaches a certain threshold, this creates a positive feedback loop – better players push everyone else to train and compete harder just to keep up (i.e. just to make a Varsity team in high school), which creates even more high caliber players. Furthermore, players who might otherwise be dominating lesser geographical areas can’t take their foot off the gas pedal, or they know that success will be short-lived. An 84 mph high school pitcher may go undefeated in Iowa and, satisfied, stop pushing. That same pitcher in Southern California might struggle just to make his high school’s JV team, forcing him to keep pressing and improving himself.
Side note: as a high school player who didn’t come from this type of hotbed, and where 85 mph meant you were the league ace, it became very important for me to use objective metrics to judge myself against. If I knew the numbers that players at the next level were achieving, I could train for and compare myself against those. I certainly wouldn’t make it if I just compared myself to my current level of competition.
--
Motor learning through imitationOne of the primary ways in which motor learning occurs is through imitation (1). In other words, we can trace back higher level throwing, hitting and other baseball-specific movement patterns to an athlete’s individual expression of the patterns he was exposed to over the course of his development (and in particular, during the very early stages of development, as once the general patterns are learned, these patterns are then further reinforced, and to some extent refined, through repetition).
Put simply, athletes who are surrounded by higher level athletes (and patterns) tend to have a better opportunity and chance of developing higher level patterns themselves. Athletes who are surrounded by non-competitive, low level patterns from a young age are at a massive disadvantage if their goal is to acquire high-level patterns.
Imagine child A growing up in small town America, learning to play catch with the dad below, and only seeing the patterns expressed by other athletes in his intramural little league.
Child B grows up in a minor league locker room, learns to hit and throw with elite players and observes and watches these patterns for a decade. It’s no mystery who will end up with the better patterns 999 times out of 1,000.
This point applies to any baseball hotbed, including the Dominican, but also American hotbeds like those mentioned above. “Excellence breeds excellence” is therefore not only a true statement – it’s science.
--
#4 Other factors
To pretend that these and only these factors account for the differences in US and Dominican baseball achievement would be false. I’ll touch briefly on a couple of these.
--
PEDs / Age FabricationWhile both cultures do have PED-related issues, a larger differentiator is age fabrication, which is extremely difficult if not impossible to regulate for the MLB. However, this practice is well known by pro organizations and most simply don’t care if the prospect is actually 16 or 19 years old if the on-field product is adequate.
I know Latin players who openly share their real names and ages with teammates, but are or were forced to portray a false identity (often by their agents) in order to attempt to be a more desirable prospect to their respective organizations or earn a larger bonus at signing.
--
Anthropometry Longer limbs/ shorter torsos (or “high butt” as Buck Showalter calls it) may lend itself to better leverages and energy transfer for throwing or hitting. Not only do longer relative legs and arms directly improve leverages, but because the primary function of the torso in hitting/throwing is to stiffen to effectively transfer kinetic energy between the lower and upper half, it’s possible that shorter torsos may also aid velocity via minimizing lost energy during this transfer.
In other words, two 6’4” pitchers are not two 6’4” pitchers. Pitcher A may have a 6’2” wingspan, a long torso, and short legs relative to his height, while Pitcher B may have a 6’6” wingspan, a short torso and long legs relative to his height (potentially more advantageous for throwing/hitting). Scouts have known this for decades, often describing the ideal pitcher’s body as “all arms and legs.” Below is one example of a 6’2″ pitcher with a 6’8″ inch wingspan, followed by a 6’6″ pitcher with a 6’2″ wingspan. Height is therefore just a crude approximation for levers and proportions.
Is this even relevant? Hard to say without data. While there is data showing anthropometric differences, on average, between African, Mexican and Caucasian Americans*, I uncovered no such data for Dominicans, making this possibility purely speculative.
Jeurys Familia (Dominican Republic) and his long levers.
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*In this particular study on ethnicity and skeletal structure, the authors concluded “blacks have longer legs and shorter trunks than whites, Asians have longer trunks and shorter legs than whites, [Mexican americans] have similar body proportions as whites, but they are shorter.” (2)
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What We Can Learn from Dominican Success
Let’s summarize what we’ve discussed, and how you can apply it to either your own or your athletes’ development in order to improve your results.
> Learn the difference between want vs. need (easier said than done – if you grew up comfortable and without a fire under your ass, the first step is to figure out your why).
> You don’t need fancy tools (if resources are limited, pour the majority of them into development, not gear, gimmicks and showcases).
> Your pitching/hitting coach is probably unnecessary (again, unless tool development is their priority, stop working on balance points, high cocked positions and towel drills. Train to move athletically and throw the crap out of the ball).
> Focus on tool development over stats/winning games (understanding what scouts and college coaches actually do and don’t look for helps direct training efforts towards those goals)
> Surround yourself with high caliber athletes (if you live in a non-baseball state, consider playing higher level summer ball out of state, visiting elite training facilities, and making sure you’re the softest throwing/weakest person in the room as often as possible).
> Fabricate your age, learn Spanish and get a spray tan (okay, I’m just kidding about this one).
> Understand your body / levers (again, you can’t do much to change this, but understanding genetic advantages/disadvantages is good information to have in building your training plan)
As baseball continues to grow internationally, it raises the collective competitiveness of baseball greatly. Latin American players bring a toolsy swagger to the higher levels of the game that didn’t just appear out of thin air – it’s largely learned behavior, and a good number of American players could learn a thing or two from it.
WRITTEN BY: Ben Brewster
https://treadathletics.com/dominican-domination/
For the Dominican Republic, this is not just a game, it's 'like a religion'
The Dominican Republic has thoroughly dominated the World Baseball Classic, turning each contest into less of a game than a celebration of Dominican baseball and spirit. The team has smashed a tournament-best 14 home runs, hitters launching their bats with a joyous expulsion as the rest of the team spills out of the dugout to celebrate as each ball soars over the wall.
"It starts with who we are," Fernando Tatis Jr. said. "It starts with our culture. In the Dominican Republic, it's what we grow with and what we've seen, and how we feel, how we dance. It's all a credit to the Dominican Republic, and who we are as a person."
“That's why we have guys that are really emotional -- because they play for their countries and they're having fun and they see the crowd and everything,” Juan Soto said. “I think it brings everything out of you."
When the Dominican Republic takes on the USA on Sunday evening at Miami’s loanDepot park, it won’t just be a ballgame: It will be a showcase of country pride that borders on religious fervor.
“There are three things [in the Dominican Republic],” Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said. “Our homeland, baseball and the bible.”
“To us, baseball is like a religion,” team general manager Nelson Cruz said.
Cruz represented the nation in four tournaments as a player from 2009 to 2023. “It's a way of life to escape poverty, to have fun. In the Dominican Republic, there are no political issues or economic issues. The whole country is focused on one thing. They are united to support this team, and this is what we are, as a country. We love the game. And the game is not just a game, it is a way of life.”
The team has put that emotion on display in every play and in every game. Whether it’s when another home run rises high over the wall or when Guerrero or Soto have to race around the bases and leap for home plate, just avoiding the tag.
“Maybe they are not the fastest runners,” manager Albert Pujols said, “but they were so aggressive on the bases. When you have this kind of team that can [do] damage, not only with a bat, but the way they play so aggressively, they know about the importance of this tournament for themselves, for the country, for our homeland.”
The team has a collective 1.090 OPS -- essentially an entire lineup of Shohei Ohtanis, who posted a 1.014 OPS last year, at the dish. They’ve scored 51 runs, 11 more than the U.S. and Italy, who are tied for second-most. The team has a 1.98 ERA, lowest in the tournament, too. This is not a ballclub that relies just on the long ball, they succeed in every facet of the game -- and even have their own minister of defense.
“We have a very good offense, a good bullpen and a very good defense -- both in the infield and the outfield. When you play this kind of a short tournament, you have to take advantage of all the mistakes made by the opponent. You try to minimize your own mistakes,” Pujols said. “Our team has shown great defense, including our captain, [Manny] Machado. We call him the ‘Minister of Defense.’ He's been making great plays on the third base.”
The nation last took home the World Baseball Classic trophy in 2013, becoming the first team to go undefeated in the process. Now that they’re in the semifinals, they’ll need to be perfect again. One loss, one slip up and the dream will be over. But even in the pursuit of perfection and global baseball domination, the team remembers why they began playing baseball in the first place: It’s fun.
“We enjoy the game. We're going to show our emotions out there. This is a part of it. I think everybody wants to show their emotions,” center fielder Julio Rodríguez said. “We play a kids' game, and we're doing it at the highest level representing our country. It doesn't get better than that.”
They're even bringing new players into the action. Austin Wells, who is eligible for the team through his mother, hit a three-run home run to cap a seven-inning, run-rule shortened game vs. Korea in seven innings on Friday night.
"I feel more Dominican every day," Wells said after the game.
They’ll need to knock off a superpowered USA team -- perhaps the only team along with Japan who has the offensive firepower to go toe-to-toe with the D.R., a country whose baseball talent shines brighter than anywhere else on earth. No other nation outside the United States has had as many players in the Major Leagues and its manager should soon become its fifth Hall of Famer.
When asked what people should know about Dominican baseball, Pujols was clear.
“We have been a blessed country, a blessed people by God, and the talent of our players, the Hall of Famers and the examples given by those former players,” Pujols said when asked. “And to be honest, we were players, and we are very proud to represent our country.”
When they take on the United States in Miami, the crowd may very well make it feel like a game played in Santo Domingo, La Romana or Santiago. There will be flags, horns and drums carried by the thousands of fans who will be in attendance for a game that will feel more like a festival.
“Our country means baseball. When we wear this uniform, we are not playing for ourselves, but representing our whole country -- and they are supporting us as never before,” Machado said. “They support us when they are here at this stadium, so we all feel that energy, that support. And bottom line, not for me but the whole team, we are playing for them, as well.”
The game may be fun and the experience of playing in this tournament a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but the goal is simple.
“Winning the World Baseball Classic would be the dream of the entire country,” Cruz said.
“[It would be] the best thing that could happen in my professional career,” Junior Caminero said. “I’d cry.”
WRITTEN BY: Michael Clair
@michaelsclair
https://www.mlb.com/news/dominican-republic-baseball-is-religion-and-way-of-life
18 countries, territories represented by internationally born players on Opening Day
Opening Day is special for a number of reasons, but when it comes to baseball’s exploding popularity across the globe, it’s especially exciting when internationally born players take the field as MLB begins a new season.
On Thursday, when the 2025 season officially began for 28 of the 30 clubs (the Dodgers and Cubs opened the season in Japan from March 18-19), 265 internationally born players appeared on Opening Day rosters -- that represented 27.8% of all players on Opening Day rosters, as well as 18 countries and territories outside of the 50 United States.
The 265 internationally born players on Opening Day rosters is also the fourth-most all-time. The Dominican Republic led the way with 100 players, continuing its streak of leading MLB in this category since the annual data was first released in 1995.
Venezuela is second this year with 63 players, and Cuba ranks third with a record 26 players. Those countries are followed by Puerto Rico (16 players), Canada (13), Japan (12), Mexico (11), Curaçao (4), Panama (4), South Korea (3), Aruba (2), Australia (2), Colombia (2), the Bahamas (1), Germany (1), Honduras (1), Nicaragua (1) and South Africa (1).
The Astros and Padres had the most internationally born players on their Opening Day rosters with 16 -- Houston had at least a share of the lead in that category for the fifth consecutive year. The Astros are followed by the Braves (14), Mets (13), Orioles (12), Marlins (12), Phillies (11), Mariners (11), Guardians (10), Dodgers (10), Yankees (10) and Rays (10).
With players from eight countries and territories outside the 50 United States, the Padres led all MLB clubs. San Diego is followed in that category by the Astros (7), Red Sox (7), Blue Jays (6), Braves (6), Orioles (6), Mariners (6) and Rays (6).
WRITTEN BY: Manny Randhawa
@MannyOnMLB
https://www.mlb.com/news/internationally-born-players-on-2025-opening-day-rosters
On Thursday, when the 2025 season officially began for 28 of the 30 clubs (the Dodgers and Cubs opened the season in Japan from March 18-19), 265 internationally born players appeared on Opening Day rosters -- that represented 27.8% of all players on Opening Day rosters, as well as 18 countries and territories outside of the 50 United States.
The 265 internationally born players on Opening Day rosters is also the fourth-most all-time. The Dominican Republic led the way with 100 players, continuing its streak of leading MLB in this category since the annual data was first released in 1995.
Venezuela is second this year with 63 players, and Cuba ranks third with a record 26 players. Those countries are followed by Puerto Rico (16 players), Canada (13), Japan (12), Mexico (11), Curaçao (4), Panama (4), South Korea (3), Aruba (2), Australia (2), Colombia (2), the Bahamas (1), Germany (1), Honduras (1), Nicaragua (1) and South Africa (1).
The Astros and Padres had the most internationally born players on their Opening Day rosters with 16 -- Houston had at least a share of the lead in that category for the fifth consecutive year. The Astros are followed by the Braves (14), Mets (13), Orioles (12), Marlins (12), Phillies (11), Mariners (11), Guardians (10), Dodgers (10), Yankees (10) and Rays (10).
With players from eight countries and territories outside the 50 United States, the Padres led all MLB clubs. San Diego is followed in that category by the Astros (7), Red Sox (7), Blue Jays (6), Braves (6), Orioles (6), Mariners (6) and Rays (6).
WRITTEN BY: Manny Randhawa
@MannyOnMLB
https://www.mlb.com/news/internationally-born-players-on-2025-opening-day-rosters
The Dominican Republic Sports & Education Academy (DRSEA), Inc. is sad to report the passing of Robert Ingram, a former Advisory Board Member of the DRSEA. He will be greatly missed.
Ozzie Virgil Sr, first Dominican MLB player, dies at 92
The man who opened the door to MLB for all Latin players, playing for the New York Giants and Philadelphia Phillies has passed away at the age of 92.
Ozzie Virgil Sr., the man who first carried the Dominican Republic into Major League Baseball, has passed away at 92. His name might not echo through the years the way some do, but his impact on the game - and on the players who followed him - runs deep. Born Osvaldo Virgil in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic, he moved to the Bronx as a child, where baseball eventually became more than just a pastime.
After high school in New York and a stint in the Marines from 1950 to 1952, Virgil embarked on a baseball career that spanned 17 years, nine of which were in the majors. He made his debut on September 23, 1956, playing third base for the New York Giants in a game against the Phillies. That moment was more than just the beginning of a new player’s journey - it was a crack in the door for future Dominican and Latin American ballplayers.
Juan Soto said it best last year: “He was the first Dominican coming to the big leagues and opened the doors for a lot of Dominicans - and not only Dominicans, for all Latin players.” It’s true. Before players like Pedro Martínez, David Ortiz, and Soto himself, there was Ozzie, setting the stage, facing the unknowns and the pressures of being the first.
In those early days, Virgil wasn’t a superstar. His numbers - a .231 batting average with 14 home runs over 324 games - don’t tell the full story. He played wherever he was needed: third base, shortstop, catcher, you name it. The positions he covered made him a reliable presence, and his versatility helped him stick around on rosters when times were tough. But it was his quiet perseverance that made the real difference.
After hanging up his cleats as a player, Virgil transitioned into coaching, spending nearly two decades in the dugout from 1968 to 1988. He found his way back to the Giants and also worked with the Expos, Padres, and Mariners. He served as third base coach under Hall of Fame manager Dick Williams, cementing his place in baseball beyond the playing field.
His legacy didn’t end with him. Virgil’s son, Ozzie Jr., followed in his father’s footsteps and carved out his own solid career, playing for the Phillies, Braves, and Blue Jays. He even made two All-Star appearances in 1985 and 1987, a rare father-son connection in baseball history.
Ozzie Sr.’s influence stretched further than his own family, though. As the first Dominican-born player in Major League Baseball, he carried the weight of his country’s hopes and dreams on his shoulders. That pressure could have crushed some, but Virgil shouldered it with quiet grace. And in doing so, he lit the path for the wave of Latin American talent that would soon flood the league.
There are moments in baseball that live in memory not because of the numbers or the records, but because they signify a change, a turning of the page. Virgil’s first game in 1956 was one of those moments. He might not have been the loudest name in the box scores, but to generations of Dominican and Latin players, he was a pioneer.
Ozzie Virgil Sr.’s passing is a reminder of where it all began for so many, of how one man’s journey paved the way for others to follow, even if the road wasn’t always easy. And that, more than anything, might just be his greatest legacy.
WRITTEN BY: Jeffrey May
FROM: https://en.as.com/mlb/ozzie-virgil-sr-first-dominican-mlb-player-dies-at-92-n/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFmk7dleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHe5s9W6ofskayBvb5Ho7BiSkyOc-zdavxXq3rfN8Tnj4F5PjNCZdpxUnzw_aem_iOpkNPIWHNoVM9-NUTYVxA&sfnsn=wa
After high school in New York and a stint in the Marines from 1950 to 1952, Virgil embarked on a baseball career that spanned 17 years, nine of which were in the majors. He made his debut on September 23, 1956, playing third base for the New York Giants in a game against the Phillies. That moment was more than just the beginning of a new player’s journey - it was a crack in the door for future Dominican and Latin American ballplayers.
Juan Soto said it best last year: “He was the first Dominican coming to the big leagues and opened the doors for a lot of Dominicans - and not only Dominicans, for all Latin players.” It’s true. Before players like Pedro Martínez, David Ortiz, and Soto himself, there was Ozzie, setting the stage, facing the unknowns and the pressures of being the first.
In those early days, Virgil wasn’t a superstar. His numbers - a .231 batting average with 14 home runs over 324 games - don’t tell the full story. He played wherever he was needed: third base, shortstop, catcher, you name it. The positions he covered made him a reliable presence, and his versatility helped him stick around on rosters when times were tough. But it was his quiet perseverance that made the real difference.
After hanging up his cleats as a player, Virgil transitioned into coaching, spending nearly two decades in the dugout from 1968 to 1988. He found his way back to the Giants and also worked with the Expos, Padres, and Mariners. He served as third base coach under Hall of Fame manager Dick Williams, cementing his place in baseball beyond the playing field.
His legacy didn’t end with him. Virgil’s son, Ozzie Jr., followed in his father’s footsteps and carved out his own solid career, playing for the Phillies, Braves, and Blue Jays. He even made two All-Star appearances in 1985 and 1987, a rare father-son connection in baseball history.
Ozzie Sr.’s influence stretched further than his own family, though. As the first Dominican-born player in Major League Baseball, he carried the weight of his country’s hopes and dreams on his shoulders. That pressure could have crushed some, but Virgil shouldered it with quiet grace. And in doing so, he lit the path for the wave of Latin American talent that would soon flood the league.
There are moments in baseball that live in memory not because of the numbers or the records, but because they signify a change, a turning of the page. Virgil’s first game in 1956 was one of those moments. He might not have been the loudest name in the box scores, but to generations of Dominican and Latin players, he was a pioneer.
Ozzie Virgil Sr.’s passing is a reminder of where it all began for so many, of how one man’s journey paved the way for others to follow, even if the road wasn’t always easy. And that, more than anything, might just be his greatest legacy.
WRITTEN BY: Jeffrey May
FROM: https://en.as.com/mlb/ozzie-virgil-sr-first-dominican-mlb-player-dies-at-92-n/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFmk7dleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHe5s9W6ofskayBvb5Ho7BiSkyOc-zdavxXq3rfN8Tnj4F5PjNCZdpxUnzw_aem_iOpkNPIWHNoVM9-NUTYVxA&sfnsn=wa
Albert Pujols Announced As Manager of Leones del Escogido
Winter is approaching, and it will be here before we even know it. As teams prepare for the upcoming LIDOM season, the Leones del Escogido announced their coaching staff, headlined by manager Albert Pujols.
He will be joined on the staff by former big leaguer Placido Polanco as his bench coach, Felipe Rojas Jr., Tony Diaz, Jairo Cuevas, Alex Concepcion, former MLB reliever Edwar Ramirez, Jorge Mejia, Rene Rojas, Israel Alcantara, MLB veteran infielder Jose Vizcaino, Hector de la Cruz, and four more catching coaches.
Pujols, born in the Dominican Republic, landed his first managerial gig after hanging up the spikes. Since his retirement, Pujols has stayed busy, working as a special assistant to Commissioner Rob Manfred, an on-air analyst at MLB Network, and now he’ll get to manage in a league he grew up watching.
Also joining Pujols on his staff is veteran infielder Placido Polanco. Becoming one of Pujols’ close friends during his career, Polanco will serve as his bench coach this winter. The 16-year veteran played his career with the Cardinals, Phillies, Tigers, and Marlins, making the All-Star Game twice, and also won three gold gloves. This will be Polanco’s first coaching gig as well.
Another former MLB reliever Pujols selected for his staff is Edwar Ramirez. He will serve as the bullpen coach. Ramirez pitched for the Yankees and Athletics for four seasons. In his career, he tallied a 7-2 record, posting a 5.19 ERA in 103 relief appearances. He has been a pitching coach with the Yankees Dominican Summer League team since 2019.
And rounding out the former MLB players on Pujols’ staff is former infielder Jose Vizcaino. Vizcaino will be the first base coach. The 18-year veteran began his career in 1989 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and played in the Cubs, Mets, Guardians, Giants, Yankees, and Cardinals organizations. He has been a Special Assistant of Baseball Operations in the Dodgers organization since 2008.
With Pujols announcing his staff, we will see how other teams in the LIDOM will prepare for their respective seasons by adding new faces and coaches into the fold. It will be fun to watch Pujols this winter and see if he can lead the Leones del Escogido to the Series del Caribe.
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WBN LIDOM: https://worldbaseball.com/league/dominican-republic/
Photo Credit: Albert Pujols acknowledges the crowd ahead of the 94th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Globe Life Field on July 16, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
He will be joined on the staff by former big leaguer Placido Polanco as his bench coach, Felipe Rojas Jr., Tony Diaz, Jairo Cuevas, Alex Concepcion, former MLB reliever Edwar Ramirez, Jorge Mejia, Rene Rojas, Israel Alcantara, MLB veteran infielder Jose Vizcaino, Hector de la Cruz, and four more catching coaches.
Pujols, born in the Dominican Republic, landed his first managerial gig after hanging up the spikes. Since his retirement, Pujols has stayed busy, working as a special assistant to Commissioner Rob Manfred, an on-air analyst at MLB Network, and now he’ll get to manage in a league he grew up watching.
Also joining Pujols on his staff is veteran infielder Placido Polanco. Becoming one of Pujols’ close friends during his career, Polanco will serve as his bench coach this winter. The 16-year veteran played his career with the Cardinals, Phillies, Tigers, and Marlins, making the All-Star Game twice, and also won three gold gloves. This will be Polanco’s first coaching gig as well.
Another former MLB reliever Pujols selected for his staff is Edwar Ramirez. He will serve as the bullpen coach. Ramirez pitched for the Yankees and Athletics for four seasons. In his career, he tallied a 7-2 record, posting a 5.19 ERA in 103 relief appearances. He has been a pitching coach with the Yankees Dominican Summer League team since 2019.
And rounding out the former MLB players on Pujols’ staff is former infielder Jose Vizcaino. Vizcaino will be the first base coach. The 18-year veteran began his career in 1989 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and played in the Cubs, Mets, Guardians, Giants, Yankees, and Cardinals organizations. He has been a Special Assistant of Baseball Operations in the Dodgers organization since 2008.
With Pujols announcing his staff, we will see how other teams in the LIDOM will prepare for their respective seasons by adding new faces and coaches into the fold. It will be fun to watch Pujols this winter and see if he can lead the Leones del Escogido to the Series del Caribe.
____
WBN LIDOM: https://worldbaseball.com/league/dominican-republic/
Photo Credit: Albert Pujols acknowledges the crowd ahead of the 94th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Globe Life Field on July 16, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
With love and laughs, Beltré takes his place in Hall as one of hot corner's finest
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- The first time Adrian Beltré signed up for baseball using birthday money, he just nee ded his parents to pay the monthly fee.
“The first thing my dad asked me was, ‘What position are you going to play?’” Beltre said. “I didn’t reply, I didn’t know. He said, ‘You should play second base because I don’t think you’re going to be very tall.’”
Dad was right about that. Beltré reached 5-11. But after three months , a teammate saw something in Beltré at third base. The venue at which Beltré told this story -- his induction speech in the 2024 Hall of Fame class -- proved his teammate prophetic.
“The third baseman wanted to play second base,” Beltré said. “And he said to me, ‘I think you look better at third base. We should swap positions.’ I simply said OK.”
Good thing Beltré didn’t veto the trade. It took him all the way to Cooperstown.
On the stage the same day that forever Rockie Todd Helton and forever Twin Joe Mauer were inducted as players (manager Jim Leyland also crossed into the Hall), Beltré was a more typically well-traveled star. He broke in with the Dodgers in 1998 at age 19, and took his magical defense and power hitting to the Dodgers (1998-2004), Mariners (2005-09), Red Sox (2010) and the team that enjoyed him most, the Rangers (2011-18).
This all stemmed from the freedom that a natural third baseman finds when the hot corner beckons.
“I immediately fell in love with that position,” Beltré said. “I loved every challenge of playing third base. I was hooked. Those hot shots, slow ground balls, double plays, I couldn’t get enough of them.”
Beltré gave a speech that was almost as smooth as his glove when it so often seemed to dart out and rob an opponent of a hit. Maybe he was joking, maybe not, when he said, “Please bear with me ... My English is going to get worse every day.”
Of course, Beltré nailed the speech, all the while flashing the smile that accompanied his exploits.
Beltré solidified Hall of Fame status with the Rangers. But it started long before -- with a surprise phone call.
“On June 23, 1998, when I was in Double-A, I received one of the most important calls of my life,” Beltré said. “I want to thank this legend so much for giving me the opportunity and having the guts to call this 19-year-old kid to the big leagues when nobody was expecting it, especially me. I will always be grateful to the late Tommy Lasorda."
Beltré thanked all of his clubs, but saved the most special for last. Rangers fans broke into loud cheers when he began talking about his time there.
Beltré was a good player before he got to Texas, there’s no doubt about that. He had a pair of Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger and was coming off a monster year in Boston in which he slashed .321/.365/.553.
In his eight years in Arlington, Beltré became a franchise legend, hitting .304 with an .865 OPS. He accumulated 1,277 of his 3,166 hits with the Rangers. He had six top-15 AL MVP finishes, and he was the undisputed leader of the clubhouse during some of the best years in franchise history.
Beltré finished his career with five Gold Glove Awards, two Platinum Glove Awards, four All-Star Game selections, four Silver Slugger Awards and 477 home runs.
His 93.5 bWAR ranks third among third basemen in baseball history behind Mike Schmidt (106.9) and Eddie Mathews (95.9).
“It's easy for this guy,” Rangers longtime star Michael Young said. “The one thing I loved is that Adrian didn't just show up at 7:00 and punch in, punch out. There are certain teammates that you play with and you love to play with because they really play to win.”
In his thank-yous, Beltré referred to Young as “Mr. Ranger,” and talked of friendship with Elvis Andrus, who played alongside him at shortstop, whom he called a “pain in my, ah, butt -- you wanted to catch every freaking fly ball just to help your fielding percentage.”
Beltré's No. 29 already hangs in Globe Life Field alongside the numbers of Nolan Ryan, Young, Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez and Johnny Oates. Ryan and Rodriguez are both in the Hall of Fame with Rangers caps as well.
But Beltré felt that with all he gave, he received as much or more.
“Like they say, everything is bigger in Texas,” Beltré said. “You guys gave me big love.”
FROM: https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/adrian-beltre-inducted-into-baseball-hall-of-fame
“The first thing my dad asked me was, ‘What position are you going to play?’” Beltre said. “I didn’t reply, I didn’t know. He said, ‘You should play second base because I don’t think you’re going to be very tall.’”
Dad was right about that. Beltré reached 5-11. But after three months , a teammate saw something in Beltré at third base. The venue at which Beltré told this story -- his induction speech in the 2024 Hall of Fame class -- proved his teammate prophetic.
“The third baseman wanted to play second base,” Beltré said. “And he said to me, ‘I think you look better at third base. We should swap positions.’ I simply said OK.”
Good thing Beltré didn’t veto the trade. It took him all the way to Cooperstown.
On the stage the same day that forever Rockie Todd Helton and forever Twin Joe Mauer were inducted as players (manager Jim Leyland also crossed into the Hall), Beltré was a more typically well-traveled star. He broke in with the Dodgers in 1998 at age 19, and took his magical defense and power hitting to the Dodgers (1998-2004), Mariners (2005-09), Red Sox (2010) and the team that enjoyed him most, the Rangers (2011-18).
This all stemmed from the freedom that a natural third baseman finds when the hot corner beckons.
“I immediately fell in love with that position,” Beltré said. “I loved every challenge of playing third base. I was hooked. Those hot shots, slow ground balls, double plays, I couldn’t get enough of them.”
Beltré gave a speech that was almost as smooth as his glove when it so often seemed to dart out and rob an opponent of a hit. Maybe he was joking, maybe not, when he said, “Please bear with me ... My English is going to get worse every day.”
Of course, Beltré nailed the speech, all the while flashing the smile that accompanied his exploits.
Beltré solidified Hall of Fame status with the Rangers. But it started long before -- with a surprise phone call.
“On June 23, 1998, when I was in Double-A, I received one of the most important calls of my life,” Beltré said. “I want to thank this legend so much for giving me the opportunity and having the guts to call this 19-year-old kid to the big leagues when nobody was expecting it, especially me. I will always be grateful to the late Tommy Lasorda."
Beltré thanked all of his clubs, but saved the most special for last. Rangers fans broke into loud cheers when he began talking about his time there.
Beltré was a good player before he got to Texas, there’s no doubt about that. He had a pair of Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger and was coming off a monster year in Boston in which he slashed .321/.365/.553.
In his eight years in Arlington, Beltré became a franchise legend, hitting .304 with an .865 OPS. He accumulated 1,277 of his 3,166 hits with the Rangers. He had six top-15 AL MVP finishes, and he was the undisputed leader of the clubhouse during some of the best years in franchise history.
Beltré finished his career with five Gold Glove Awards, two Platinum Glove Awards, four All-Star Game selections, four Silver Slugger Awards and 477 home runs.
His 93.5 bWAR ranks third among third basemen in baseball history behind Mike Schmidt (106.9) and Eddie Mathews (95.9).
“It's easy for this guy,” Rangers longtime star Michael Young said. “The one thing I loved is that Adrian didn't just show up at 7:00 and punch in, punch out. There are certain teammates that you play with and you love to play with because they really play to win.”
In his thank-yous, Beltré referred to Young as “Mr. Ranger,” and talked of friendship with Elvis Andrus, who played alongside him at shortstop, whom he called a “pain in my, ah, butt -- you wanted to catch every freaking fly ball just to help your fielding percentage.”
Beltré's No. 29 already hangs in Globe Life Field alongside the numbers of Nolan Ryan, Young, Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez and Johnny Oates. Ryan and Rodriguez are both in the Hall of Fame with Rangers caps as well.
But Beltré felt that with all he gave, he received as much or more.
“Like they say, everything is bigger in Texas,” Beltré said. “You guys gave me big love.”
FROM: https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/adrian-beltre-inducted-into-baseball-hall-of-fame
Former Houston Astros Prospect Garcia Dead at 24
Former Houston Astros pitching prospect Ronny García, along with his father, tragically lost their lives in a traffic accident on the Las Galeras-Samaná highway in Samaná, Dominican Republic. García, just 24 years old, had shown promise in his career where he played in the Astros' minor league system.
García's journey in baseball began in 2016 when he signed with Houston as a 16-year-old international prospect. Over the next seven years he pitched in various leagues and teams within the organization.
In 2021, García made his way from the Dominican Summer League Affiliates to the United States. That year, he had a 2.11 ERA between the Florida Complex League and Class-A Fayetteville. His success continued into 2022, where he allowed only one run in 18.1 innings.
Throughout his professional career, García posted a 3.42 ERA, recording nine wins and 14 saves in 122 total appearances along with 200 strikeouts in 186.2 innings. He allowed 170 hits, 71 earned runs, eight home runs and 100 walks.
"We are saddened to learn of the passing of Ronny García," wrote the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, a Carolina League team and the a Single-A affiliate of the Astros in a statement. "Ronny spent parts of three seasons with Fayetteville, always carrying a smile around the ballpark. He was a talented pitcher and a beloved teammate. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time."
In February 2024, García signed with the York Revolution of the Atlantic League. His addition to the team was met with excitement from the team's manager, Rick Forney, who envisioned García as a valuable addition to the bullpen.
“He’ll be a young bullpen arm for us,” Revolution manager Rick Forney said a few months ago in an interview. “I’m excited about him. He has really good career numbers. He’s an intriguing young pitcher. I’m hoping I can get him to be more than just a one-inning guy, maybe a bridge-type guy in the sixth or seventh inning. I’m excited to get my eyes on him.”
Our sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of a talent gone too soon.
FROM: https://www.si.com/mlb/astros/news/former-houston-astros-prospect-garcia-dead-laura9
Five Dominican pitchers in MLB opening games
Framber Valdez
Major League Baseball announced the Dominican Republic is the country outside of the United States with the most players in the rosters of MLB season 2024 opening games in the United States.
The season officially opens on Thursday, 28 March 2024 in stadiums across the United States, but two early games will be held when the Dodgers and Padres of California play in South Korea on Wednesday and Thursday.
MLB reports that among the 11 Latin American pitchers chosen to start for their teams, five are from the Dominican Republic, thus making it the country with the highest representation.
Diario Libre has reported 31 Dominican ball players are on the rosters of the MLB teams for opening day. Only seven teams will not have Dominicans on their opening rosters.
MLB comprises 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada.
FROM: https://dr1.com/news/2024/03/21/five-dominican-pitchers-in-mlb-opening-games/
The season officially opens on Thursday, 28 March 2024 in stadiums across the United States, but two early games will be held when the Dodgers and Padres of California play in South Korea on Wednesday and Thursday.
MLB reports that among the 11 Latin American pitchers chosen to start for their teams, five are from the Dominican Republic, thus making it the country with the highest representation.
Diario Libre has reported 31 Dominican ball players are on the rosters of the MLB teams for opening day. Only seven teams will not have Dominicans on their opening rosters.
MLB comprises 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada.
FROM: https://dr1.com/news/2024/03/21/five-dominican-pitchers-in-mlb-opening-games/
Recent Events: School Supply Distribution:
Like most of the world, the Dominican Republic was hit hard by the pandemic. Schools and business
closed; the country was under curfew for months at a time, baseball came to a standstill, as did the Dominican Republic Sports & Education Academy (DRSEA). But last week, the DRSEA began its comeback, holding its first event in more than two years by distributing school supplies to a group of young baseball players that are part of Los Delfindes de Caballona, a youth foundation in Santo Domingo. “We want these kids to love baseball, but also understand the importance of education in their lives,” said Cesar Geronimo, a former player with the Cincinnati Reds and a DRSEA board member.
Much more is being planned by the DRSEA in the near future, including preparing Dominican baseball players academically for college baseball scholarships in the United States. The pandemic may have slowed the DRSEA, but the organization is getting back up on its feet. If you would like to reach out or help, please visit www.drsea.org and consider a donation.
Jesus Alou (right) with Ozzie Virgil (left), the first Dominican in MLB, and Juan Marichal (center), the first Dominican enshrined in baseball's Hall of Fame at DRSEA fundraiser.
Jesús Alou, a two-time World Series champion and a big-league veteran of parts of 15 seasons, died on Friday, March 10th , according to ESPN's Enrique Rojas. Alou would have celebrated his 81st birthday on March 24. Rojas added that Alou had suffered two "cardiovascular accidents" in recent times, but that he was not known to be dealing with a "serious illness."
Alou, for his career, hit .280/.305/.353 (86 OPS+) with 32 home runs and 31 steals in 1,380 contests. His contributions were worth an estimated 0.8 Wins Above Replacement, per Baseball Reference's calculations.
Jesús was, of course, the youngest of the Alou brothers, alongside Felipe and the late Matty. The Alou family tree has since produced several other notable big-league players, including Moises, José Sosa, Luis Rojas, and Mel Rojas. Jesús, Felipe, and Matty made history on Sept. 15, 1963 when they appeared (but did not start) in the same outfield for the San Francisco Giants.
Alou, for his career, hit .280/.305/.353 (86 OPS+) with 32 home runs and 31 steals in 1,380 contests. His contributions were worth an estimated 0.8 Wins Above Replacement, per Baseball Reference's calculations.
Jesús was, of course, the youngest of the Alou brothers, alongside Felipe and the late Matty. The Alou family tree has since produced several other notable big-league players, including Moises, José Sosa, Luis Rojas, and Mel Rojas. Jesús, Felipe, and Matty made history on Sept. 15, 1963 when they appeared (but did not start) in the same outfield for the San Francisco Giants.
About the DRSEA
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The Dominican Republic Sports and Education Academy (DRSEA), a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, is in the design stages. The DRSEA is planning a sports and education academy in the Dominican Republic aimed at giving talented baseball players the option of attending U.S. colleges and universities on athletic scholarships. The academy is being patterned after one in Puerto Rico that has had a high success rate of placing baseball players there on U.S. college teams. Land for the academy has been identified in the Dominican Republic, not far from the capital of Santo Domingo. If all goes well, the academy could open its doors in the not too distant future, said Charles S. Farrell, founder, principal and senior consultant for Sports Perspectives International, a sports advocacy, marketing and consulting firm. The ultimate goal of the DR Sports and Education Academy is to level the playing field in terms of full minority participation in the $450 billion a year global sports industry; amateur, professional, and on the educational level. “The Dominican Republic has embraced baseball more passionately than any other country I know,” Farrell said, “and already, some of the best baseball players in the world come from there. “Sammy Sosa, Albert Pujols, Vladimir Guerrero, Many Ramirez, David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez, Bartolo Colon, Moises Alou, Alex Rodriguez, Damaso Marte, Alfonso Soriano, Jose Reyes; the list goes on and on. Of the international players on Major League rosters last year, 75 percent came from the Dominican Republic.” Unfortunately, most rarely obtain even a high school degree, Farrell said. Players in the Dominican Republic can sign professional contracts at 16 ½, so education is usually bypassed in pursuit of the dream of success in baseball. “We want to provide young baseball players with an option by preparing them both academically AND athletically to succeed,” he said. “The addition of some of these players on U.S. college teams will be the equivalent of getting a 7-foot center in basketball, or a running back who does a 4.2 sixty. One solid hitter and fielder in a lineup could be the difference between a good college team and a great one.” The academy will be able to take gifted baseball players and prepare them academically for the college classroom. The academic program will exceed the minimum requirements for college eligibility now required by the NCAA. “We not only want them to succeed in college, we want them to excel,” Farrell said. |
Leadership
Cesar Geronimo Geronimo serves as the Honorary Chairman of the Board Trustees. |
Charles Farrell
Farrell is a Co-Founder of the DRSEA. |