By Eduardo Rosario (Special guest contributor)
Major League Baseball spring training is upon us with pitchers and catchers reporting to camp later this week. This is a time where there is much buzz with every team’s prospects. The question that comes to mind is how are these prospects, able to make it this far in professional baseball? What support systems are in place? We have youth from around the world, and across the US who dream to play Major League Baseball. Many come from homes and communities with the resources and structures in place to support someone with the desire to put in the work to make it. In the international arena, there are the baseball academies in the Dominican Republic, and similar structures in place in Venezuela. Both of which are invested in heavily by MLB teams.[1] Youth in Puerto Rico, are under the same rules as youth in the United States but lack many of the resources one may find in the US.
In addition to MLB scouting, many Black youth who aspire to make it into Major League Baseball, are provided great avenues of opportunity and instruction and are greatly supported by Black Major League Baseball Players. Such support and opportunities are vital considering the low number of Black MLB players there are in the Majors today. There’s the Hank Aaron Invitational, the Dream Series, and the Breakthrough Series. MLB in turn, also contributes to these honorable support structures for Black youth as they should. But it’s precisely for this reason I ask the question, “Where is MLB’s support and instruction for Latino youth here in the US?” In April 2016, Commissioner Rob Manfred publicly stated of MLB’s commitment to youth.[2] Baseball is wholeheartedly embraced by the Latino community across the US. But it is hard to see MLB’s investment in the Latino community as it has been with the Black Community here in the US. The promotion of such endeavors if they do exist, are hardly seen being publicly promoted in the same way as they are seen being promoted for the Black community.
The fact of the matter is, Latino MLB players could take a chapter from Black MLB players and invest in providing resources, support structures, and instruction, for many Latino youth in the US. Latino communities in the diaspora share deep bonds with the homelands from which their families have come from. What would be better than to have Latino Major League Baseball players passing on a road map for what it takes to make it and maintain success in Major League Baseball to Latino youth. With Latino Major League Baseball players providing a guiding light for Latino youth, would be nothing short of inspirational considering the hardships many Latino Youth endure in their communities, and across the US. Latino Major League Baseball players represent much hope for the next generation of youth in the US. To minimize the lack of interest youth may have in baseball is due to the internet and social media, is negating some of the real hardships faced by many Latino youth here in the US daily. MLB and Latino MLB players building bridges of hope with Latino youth, is building a sense of community and opportunity for all Latino youth in the US deserve.
[1] https://en.liderendeportes.com/news/beisbol/MLB-invests-38-million-in-Venezuelan-talent/ February 12, 2023
[2] https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-s-rob-manfred-kids-playing-sports-vital-c173357598 February 12, 2023
Norma Ader
February 14, 2023 at 10:35 am
Believe me, your so right. This country invest on country all over the world but it is had to find programs here that give Latinos Americans that same chance to get ahead. Your article is right on point and I hope someone will make the change for our own country as in others. Your article is one very much needed and I can only hope MLB will act upon it
Julio Pabón
February 14, 2023 at 1:05 pm
Thank you for your comments.
Gil De Anda
February 14, 2023 at 5:21 pm
Great Article Ed….. I think you hit it on the nose of having Latino Baseball players sponsoring more programs for the youth. With the Millions that they make, it would be giving back to the communities they’ve come from. I think all in all MLB should give back more to the communities like fixing up all the fields that are run down and need remodeling. I don’t know if they do that in the Latin American countries or not , but that’s a start…..Most of the fields I see are lacking maintenance. Anyway great article and keep on doing your thing. It’s great !!!!
Julio Pabón
February 14, 2023 at 6:55 pm
Thank you Gil for your comments. We believe that more needs to be done for the inner city Latino kids who like baseball, but do not have the resources to pursue to noticeable levels.
Gil De Anda
February 14, 2023 at 4:48 pm
Great Article Ed….. I think you hit it on the nose of having Latino Baseball players sponsoring more programs for the youth. With the Millions that they make, it would be giving back to the communities they’ve come from. I think all in all MLB should give back more to the communities like fixing up all the fields that are run down and need remodeling. I don’t know if they do that in the Latin American countries or not , but that’s a start…..Most of the fields I see are lacking maintenance. Anyway great article and keep on doing your thing. It’s great !!!!
Gil De Anda
February 15, 2023 at 12:44 am
A good friend of mine, who has coached and mentored many kids over the last 20 years, sponsor a non profit organization called “ Baseball without Borders”. And he takes teams to other countries and does fundraisers to help alíviate the costs to send kids to play ball in other countries. He also collects and sends equipment that has been donated to him from teams here in the US. If you think this might be a ways of connecting the dots , please let me know …I can connect him with anyone willing to help not only Latinos but all kids of all races, experience playing ball in other countries…… he’s taking kids to Mexico, Nicaragua, Italy, Cuba among some of the countries he’s traveled to. It’s really a worthy cause.
Gil