Baseball Academy Planned For Nicaragua
By Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com
Is Nicaragua the next hotbed for baseball? A
group of U.S. businessmen, including former
Major Leaguers Dave Stewart and Reggie
Smith, believe it is and plan to build a
privately funded academy in the Central
American nation.
The International Baseball Association and
its affiliate, International Baseball
Academies -- Central America, announced
plans on Thursday to build a
state-of-the-art academy in Nicaragua for
promising young players.
"We understand that for academies in the
Dominican Republic, the primary mission is
to find kids to play ball," said Bob
Oettinger, one of the principals of IBACA-Nicaragua
"We want to provide Nicaraguan kids that
opportunity, but we are also going to
incorporate vocational training. They will
be getting the best instruction on the
field, but also in the classroom. When it
comes time to leave the academy, they will
have learned skills for other areas."
About an hour west of Managua near the city
of Villa del Carmen, the academy will be
built adjacent to the Gran Pacifica Beach
and Golf Resort on the Pacific Coast. The
academy will be constructed in four phases,
with the initial phase including a dormitory
for 48 players, two full baseball fields,
one half-field, eight pitching mounds,
batting cages, a cafeteria, a trainers'
room, locker rooms, a gym and weight room, a
classroom with computers, administrative
offices, and storage and maintenance areas.
The academy will accommodate 192
participants, most ranging from ages 14-16.
Upon entering the academy, players will
agree to give a portion of their signing
bonuses to the academy if they sign with a
Major League club. Fantasy camps and
facility rentals for tournaments and winter
ball will also provide a source of revenue
for the facility.
Groundbreaking is scheduled for early 2010.
"The thing that impressed us is that we
would see young people in uniform walking to
pickup games in pastures and any place big
enough to host game," Oettinger said. "We
were really impressed with the level of play
despite the facilities. They showed a lot of
skill. We thought that if we can build a
facility that's comparable to the Yankees or
Mets, just think what these guys can do."
Baseball instruction at the academy will be
provided by U.S. and Nicaraguan coaches with
a staff that includes former Major League
players Brad Lesley, Stewart and Smith.
Campers will receive classroom instruction
in English, computer skills, nutrition,
humanities and business.
"We realize that it is an ambitious project,
but we feel can pull it off and have the
resources to make it happen," Smith said.
"With the passion that they have for the
game there, and the fact that it is
centrally located, we believe the potential
to produce ballplayers out of all of Central
America is a tremendous opportunity."
"We want to accomplish what they are doing
in other academies," Smith continued. "When
they are ready to sign, we want the players
to be capable enough to go to the United
States."
As part of its research, the group spent
time evaluating the baseball academies in
the Dominican Republic, and it has worked
closely with Major League Baseball's
international office on the project.
Although not officially affiliated with the
project in Nicaragua, MLB has provided
coaching clinics and advice on how to work
with players.
"Dave came up to us about a year and a half
ago about the idea, and as far as player
development is concerned, from a baseball
standpoint, it's a good idea," said Lou
Melendez, MLB's vice president of
international baseball operations. "It's a
good project, and although we are not
affiliated, having someone like Dave Stewart
lends credibility to it, and I think they
will do a world of good in Nicaragua."
There have been 11 big league players from
Nicaragua, with the most recognizable being
pitcher Dennis Martinez. In 2009, there were
two Nicaraguans -- Vicente Padilla and
Everth Cabrera -- on Opening Day rosters.
"We want it to be profitable venture, but we
are just as motivated to do something for
their country," Oettinger said. "We are so
impressed with the people down there that we
want something that will make a lasting
impression on their lives. One of our
guiding philosophies after doing our
research is that we believe that Nicaragua,
with the proper facilities, can be another
Dominican Republic."
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