BASEBALL IN PUERTO RICO

Playing baseball in Puerto Rico

The territory of Puerto Rico does indeed have a rich baseball history. For a relatively small area there is a deep passion and love for the game of baseball there. Numerous Hall of Famers/Hall of Famers to be who can now tell their grandkids about their plaques in Cooperstown who hail from Puerto Rico, Orlando Cepeda is certainly one of them due to his time with the San Francisco Giants. I don’t know if Sandy Alomar Sr. will make it to the Hall of Fame or not, but there are few people who have made a greater contribution to the game as a player, coach or father in comparison to Sandy Alomar. And he is an icon for baseball in Puerto Rico.

In recent years Bud Selig has pushed for an increasing in funding of baseball academies in places like Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rico Baseball and High School Academy is located just outside of San Juan for example. The main focus of this academy is for youngsters to get a quality education as academics comes first and foremost before baseball. They offer a wide range of regular, advanced and specialty courses just like any other high school that you would find in America. This is another example how baseball in Puerto Rico has enabled kids to pursue their dreams of being like their idols.

Clubs like the Los Angeles Dodgers have poured a ton of money into setting up training facilities down there and have been of scouts down there scouring the area to try and find the next Ivan Rodriguez or Carlos Delgado. Delgado in particular is someone to be proud of because he was one of the highest paid players in the game and is in fact going strong for the New York Mets. Players like Danny Tartabull was popular enough to make an appearance on other media such as the sitcom Seinfield so things like that can be a real resume builder.

It truly doesn’t matter whether you are a young, slugging phenom like Ruben Sierra or a quality utility player like Hiram Bocachica. Baseball in Puerto Rico is a way for better things and a dream for most kids. The fact is that if you work hard and the right scout catches one of your games on one of your good days it doesn’t matter whether your family has connections or you are playing the game of baseball with very limited supplies, the whole thing is about talent and dedication. Of course it doesn’t hurt to have a gun for an arm from behind the plate like Benito Santiago did, along with five tool like skills. Even players who are small in stature, but have plenty of heart can be mentioned as one of the best second baseman in the game as a member of the Montreal Expos. Vidro has also been selected to three All-Star games in his career. So once again Vidro proved that it isn’t your size that matters it is about your love and dedication to the game mixed with a certain level of natural talent that will bring you success.

Players like Bernie Williams can also inspire kids from Puerto Rico and all over the globe by showing them that there is a life after baseball with his successful recording career.