Dominican Academies-Hunter Haas

Last week in class we had great discussion regarding Latin American athletes, specifically the talk about baseball academies in these countries. As we weighed the circumstances and debated the benefits on each side of the ball, I developed an interest to look into this further. A major part of this discussion was regarding the money and talent that these MLB teams were gaining by signing Latin players for small amounts of money. Some of the class made a point that this at least gives them a chance that they would not have been given otherwise. With that thought in mind I looked into the background of these academies and the overall situation for these prospective players. To give you a good sense of the educational climate in the Dominican Republic I will provide some background notes. First, on average, citizens of the DR will only make it to the sixth grade. Also, baseball is the best shot for these people to make decent money and survive. Keep in mind that only 4 or 5 out of every 100 players from this country make a major league roster in their lifetime.

What truly surprised me was the effort that MLB teams are making to not only develop better players, but better people. This is what ultimately swayed my opinion to thinking that this is an acceptable practice. Currently, it is estimated that $84 Million enters the DR annually from signing bonuses or financial contributions given by current MLB players from the country (Sanchez). This money plays a key part in the development and sustainability of the country. Also, the majority of these academies are run by Dominican natives who have an interest in bettering the country. In terms of education, it is required that every academy provides an English class, as well as an American culture adaptation course (Sanchez). These courses help to make the transition easier on the athletes and give them a better chance of succeeding in the country. Along with this, multiple organizations have provided a partnership with a charter school to provide high school degrees, and educate these athletes to hopefully make them more successful in life. After looking at the facts and the underlying situation that faces these people every day, I see the academies as an acceptable practice and believe that many players have been given a better life because of the MLB involvement. Although it may not be ideal, it is a better alternative to a life in poverty, and is at least a glimmer of hope in the lives of the Dominican people. 

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