TAMPA - The Devil Rays took their most significant step back into Latin American player development Thursday by announcing the organization will begin to share the Dodgers' baseball academy in the Dominican Republic.
The move gives the Rays a significant presence in the Dominican for the first time since budget cuts forced the team to shut down their operation there after the 2001 season.
It also begins to meet one of the needs executive vice president Andrew Friedman and senior vice president Gerry Hunsicker identified shortly after Stuart Sternberg became principal owner in October.
"The first major step is that we need to establish operations in, primarily, the Dominican and Venezuela," Hunsicker said. "So, to be able to enter into an agreement where we can begin in an existing facility, and one that is among the finest in the Dominican, gives us a head start on our plan. This allows us to be up and running immediately."
The teams will share the Campo Las Palmas in Guerra, a 50-acre complex that has been in operation for 20 years. Hunsicker said the opportunity arose when the Dodgers decided to drop one of their two Dominican teams, creating space for another organization to use the facility.
Hunsicker said a Dominican-based staff - complete with coaches and scouts - has been hired and the Rays will begin to hold tryouts at the facility soon.
Meanwhile, the Rays continue to negotiate for a site to create an academy in Venezuela, and are believed to be focusing near the town of Magallanes.
Recently hired Rays special assistant Andres Reiner, who spearheaded the Astros' player development efforts in Venezuela, is assisting in securing a site and an announcement could come within the next 30 days.
Hunsicker and first-year manager Joe Maddon both expressed surprise that the Rays' presence in the Dominican was so relatively sparse when they interviewed for their jobs during the offseason.
"But then I realized that it wasn't because the interest wasn't here and the value wasn't appreciated," Hunsicker said. "We're just very fortunate that the ownership we have in place not only is committed to a strong player development plan, but is willing to go above and beyond to see it done."
Hunsicker said the Rays could field teams in the Dominican and Venezuelan summer leagues by 2007, and will definitely have the players in place to field a team in at least one of those leagues.
Recently hired Rays director of international operations Carlos Alfonso will oversee the scouting and signing of players in both countries as the Rays try to catch up with the majority of major-league teams that already have a significant presence in Latin America.
"It's critical," Hunsicker said. "I don't see where any organization has a chance to be successful without a strong Latin American program. Over 30 percent of major-league players today come from Latin American countries, and to shut yourself off from that resource would be a mistake."
Original Post
