(21 Feb 2025)
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Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – 29 January 2025
1. Various of little leaguers practising baseball
2. Setup of Junior Noboa, National Baseball Commissioner of the Dominican Republic and a a former Major League Baseball (MLB) player
3. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Junior Noboa, Dominican Republic National Baseball Commissioner:
“What happens with the existing system is that there is fierce competition between the teams. It isn’t unfair; it is aggressive. A lot is demanded of these young kids, and they want these kids, who are really still children, to be able to give more than they are capable.”
4. Wide of scout Eddy Lorenzo during interview
5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Eddy Lorenzo, scout:
“But the reality is that there is a system in place and the earlier you discover the talent and develop it the more money it costs.”
6. Former Major League Baseball (MLB) player Carlos Alvarez "Smiley" Gonzalez during interview
7. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Carlos Alvarez "Smiley" Gonzalez, former MLB player:
"When we get out of here (minor leagues) is when the talent should be recognized, but it’s not. These guys (other players) were actually younger than me, but in reality, at that time, they were up to 10 years younger. So I went out to compete with them and I couldn’t; I had no chance. What do I have to do? I have a dream, and I want to achieve it. I see my neighbor, who is older than me, claiming that he is younger, so he gets preference, and I figured it was my turn to do the same."
8. Child playing baseball
9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Carlos Alvarez "Smiley" Gonzalez, former MLB player:
"Me, I was crying at night because I knew I was better. But that guy was younger than me. I was trying to do the legal thing. I didn’t have a chance. You know what I mean? So, right now that’s how a lot of young guys go, but then in the end there are a lot of guys that have much better prospects than me. Well, but they’re 17, they’re 18, they can’t sign."
10. Juan Emilio Pimentel playing
11. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Juan Emilio Pimentel, former catcher in the Dominican Dodgers Complex league:
“Because we were inexperienced and time was moving fast, the system sometimes pressures the managers or families into lying (about age). In the United States, players sign contracts at 20, 21, 22, or 23 years old, while Venezuelans and Cubans sign contracts at older ages. The only ones facing this issue are the Dominicans.”
12. Pimentel during interview
13. Little leaguers playing
STORYLINE:
There was little sleep in the days leading up to Jan. 15.
Dozens of teenage baseball players across the Dominican Republic lay in bed, unable to close their eyes.
They had batted, pitched and ran until sore, sacrificing time away from family since they were children with hopes of returning with a life-changing pay day. Hopes of becoming the next David Ortiz or Pedro Martínez — big league stars with inconceivable financial security.
Suddenly, for some, that future they fought for was at risk, all because of one promising pitcher half a world away.
Now, for some, the future they had fought for could be upended with an Instagram post.
The 23-year-old Sasaki signed a minor league contract with a $6.5 million bonus -– money that otherwise might have gone to those Dominican players.
Instead, the Caribbean country’s baseball industry was forced to once again face a system many say is broken as it struggles to find a solution.
Verbal commitments with teams that fall apart.
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