Investing MLB in the country continues to rise. The growth of Venezuelan talent has no roof, according to the opinion of scouts
Dominican Republic and Venezuela remain the main source that feeds talent to the big leagues every year for international recruitment process.
The July 2, 2010 the two countries took $ 64 million $ 76 million the industry's largest firms invested outside the United States, according to figures released by the publication Baseball America. And although The difference between them is still important (33 Creoles received bonuses of at least $ 100,000 by 92 Dominicans who moved in the same range), the national framework continues to expand.
62 Venezuelans for the first time start up in the season opener of the big tent, including 10 on the disabled list. A total representing 26.5% of players born outside the United States, surpassed only by the 86 representatives of Quisqueya. Never before in the two countries totals were so close.
"Baseball has continued to grow and every day we find more players Venezuelan high levels, "said Andres Reiner, special assistant to baseball operations Tampa Bay, which for 17 years was the architect of the success of the Houston Academy Guacara. "The last statistic I checked baseball minor claimed that about one million and a half of boys playing in the different categories (Criollitos, FVB and Little League). From there they will continue coming players. Not necessarily have to be millionaires bond, but the quarry will continue to provide. "
Reiner Under the aegis of the Academy of the Astros produced 130 professional baseball players, including Johan Santana, Bobby Abreu, Richard Hidalgo, Melvin Mora, Carlos Guillen and Freddy Garcia. Now the Rays, they aim to follow a similar path with its successful program in the country since 2007.
"20 years ago, when Reiner began the whole movement of the academies, I immediately thought that Venezuela was going to be a huge territory for the emergence of players. And now with so many big league players, all of these guys we're seeing have a greater motivation. Everyone wants to be there, "said Camilo Pascual, legendary scout for the Dodgers in Los Angeles, which along with Tampa Bay and executive representatives of all organizations in Major League Baseball (MLB), evaluated for three days to 60 teens available for the talent acquisition process in July at the Sports Complex of Empresas Polar, located in San Joaquin.
"Hopefully we can be a little more aggressive," continued Pascual. "We've been a bit away from the competition that has been here, but I think this time the Dodgers have another vision. They know there is much talent in Venezuela and I hope to compete, because I are going great players, "he smiled.
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| In San Joaquin met most of the class of 2011, signed on July 2 |
The talent of the country not only tempts the Dodgers. All teams want part of the cornucopia. Some 800 players in the country is divided into the farm system in 2011 and the highest average annual signatures than 200. Only by political factors and economic growth have pushed the reduction of academies in the country. San Luis ceased operations in 2010 and the presence of MLB decreased to six sets (Cincinnati, Detroit, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Seattle and Tampa Bay), which compete in summer league for rookies first and second year of signing.
"I think little by little the schools go back. Willing or unwilling, that is where the kids better prepared for life as a baseball player. I have no doubt that the Venezuelan baseball continue to grow. Because the equipment is not signed and thrown away. But the boys kept going and going, "said Reiner.
Colorado is an example of what comes to explaining the veteran scout. With a low-profile program in the La Guacamaya south of Valencia, the Rockies have been joined by major firms in recent years. Two of their best prospects, Rafael Ortega and the right Albert Campos, are products of that initiative. The results have been pushing the investment of the rocky border tricolor.
have reason to. On 1 April the opening ceremony of the season in Denver, had seven Venezuelan roster of 25, a record for the country. A group led by Carlos Gonzalez, including Rafael Betancourt, Jhoulys Chacin, Jonathan Herrera, Jose Lopez, Franklin Morales and Felipe Paulino. Arizona and Detroit began the season with six natives, each. The Tigers spent $ 2.53 million on July 2 and almost half of that money ($ 1.2 million) was the bonus of Mirandino Danry Vasquez, one of the jewels of Latin America.
"When you look at the talent he has attended San Joaquin and the possibility that such events recur, you can only envision a bright future. Although sometimes there are no conditions for practice, here we will continue to produce players and we as a team, we will present where talent is, "he said Lebia Ochoa, supervisor of scouts from Anaheim.
This paper was published in the daily El Nacional on April 9, 2011
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