Dominican player of the week: Alfonso Soriano

Dominican player and Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano has been named the Dominican player of the week here at the Dominican Baseball Guy blog. Soriano is no stranger to awards. Since he first appeared on the MLB scene back in 2000 with the Yankees he has made seven All-Star games. He has won the player of the week in his league six times, and the player of the month three times. And he has four Silver Slugger awards.

Last week was a short week due to the All-Star break, but in just three games Soriano had two doubles, two home runs, and five RBI, while hitting .545. He actually did most of the damage in just one game, with both doubles and both home runs, and the five RBI all coming one game.

His average has declined in recent years, but he was never a high average hitter. But he is still on pace for around 30 home runs and 90 RBI, right around his career average. Pretty good numbers for a 36 year old player in his 14th MLB season.

He had two World Series titles with the great Yankees championship teams and made the playoffs with the Cubs in 2007 and 2008. Other than that, he can be said to be a player that has had all these great numbers on bad teams. He put up great numbers on some really bad Rangers teams, and perhaps his best year came with a horrible Nationals team in 2006.

Soriano is one of the few Dominican players to be signed as a free agent into the Japanese Professional Baseball League (NIPON) where he played for three seasons before being picked up by the Yankees. He is from San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic.

Dominican player of the week Alfonso Soriano, photo by EmmyMik on Flickr

2 Dominican players compete in 2012 MLB Home Run Derby

The 2012 MLB All-Star Game rosters feature 8 Dominican baseball players this year. That comes out to 11% of all the players appearing in the All-Star Game. The percentage of Dominican players appearing in the 2012 MLB Home Run Derby last night was smaller, but the country still had two representatives swing away in the Derby.

Dominican player Robinson Cano was shut out in the first round of the Home Run Derby. The Dominican Baseball Guy can not remember any player getting shut out in a Derby, so it must be a long time since that has happened. This proves once again that the Home Run Derby does not mean a lot. Cano is one of the top  5 players in the game by most accounts, and he will be in the running for the AL MVP again this year.

However, Jose Bautista salvaged the competition for fans of Dominican players. Bautista has led the AL in home runs the last two seasons and is a appearing in his second strait home run derby, so he was expected to have a good showing. He made it to the second round, then snuck into the finals in a bat off against Mark Trumbo, before finally losing in the finals to Prince Fielder.

Dominican baseball player Robinson Cano is from San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic and Jose Bautista is from Santo Domingo.

Dominican baseball dancers: Bailarinas de Estrellas Orientales

For the first time on the Dominican Baseball Guy blog, I have for you the dancers of the Estrellas de San Pedro de Macoris. Now the dancers from Licey and Escogido in Santo Domingo, and even the Aguilas in Santiago are employed throughout the whole season. The other three teams have to import dancers from the other big cities, and they may only have the budget to employ the Dominican baseball dancers for late in the season or just the playoffs. So, do not expect dancer at every baseball game in the Dominican Republic, but they should be at most.

This video is not as clear the footage of the Dominican baseball dancers from Licey, but you get the gist of what it means to have dancers at a baseball game. Think the ring girls and girls dancing outside the ring at boxing matches and MMA events. They are closer to that than they are to American football cheerleaders.

Without further ado, here are the Dominican baseball dancers from the Estrellas Orientales in San Pedro de Macoris:

2012 MLB All-Star rosters feature 8 Dominican players

The 2012 MLB All-Star game roster were announced Sunday and there are eight Dominican players among the All-Star invitees.

Interesting that six out of the eight Dominican players featured in the All-Star game were voted in by the fans of starters. Out of 18 position starters on the NL and AL squad, that means that 33% of the starters in the All-Star game come from the Dominican Republic. This is a huge number, considering that 11% of MLB players are Dominican.

But, alas the overall number of total Dominicans on the 2012 MLB All-Star rosters is right at the percentage of Dominicans players in Major League Baseball. Eight of a total of around 70 players in the All-Star game are Dominican, which comes to 11%.

Four out of the nine position starters on the AL team are Dominican players, along with one pitcher:

• Robinson Cano is starting for the third strait time and making his fourth appearance overall. He is from San Pedro de Macoris, Republica Dominicana.
• Adrian Beltre is starting for the second strait year and is playing in his third strait All-Star game. Beltre is from the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo.
• Jose Bautista set the all-time votes record last year, only to have that record broken by Josh Hamilton this year.  He is from Santo Domingo too.
• David Ortiz is an All-Star for the eighth time, also from Santo Domingo.
• Fernando Rodney is from Samana, Dominican Republic and is playing in his first All-Star game.

There are two Dominican starters and one Dominican reserve player on the NL squad:

• Rafael Furcal made his third All-Star game in his thirteenth year in the bigs. Not surprising, considering he was named the Dominican Baseball Guy player of the week earlier this season. He is from Loma de Cabrera, Dominican Republic.
• Melky Cabrera is from Santo Domingo and is appearing in his first mid-summer classic.
• Starlin Castro will play in his second All-Star game in just his third big league season. He is from Monte Cristi, DR.

See all these top Dominican players and the rest of the MLB All-Stars July 10, 2012 on FOX.

Dominican Republic Sports & Education Academy's second annual "Making A Difference In The Dominican Republic" event honors MLB executive Lou Melendez

This Friday, June 29, The Dominican Republic Sports and Education Academy (DRSEA) will host its second annual gala in New York City, and honor longtime MLB executive Lou Melendez. The event is co-hosted by the DRSEA, along with the Juan Pablo Duarte Foundation, the New York Dominican Officers Organization, and Dominicans on Wall Street.

Melendez is retiring after 29 years with Major League Baseball. He spent 17 years as a lawyer in the MLB Labor Department, and the last 12 years as vice president of international operations. In that capacity he opened the MLB office in the Dominican Republic in 2000, and since then has worked with player education and community outreach in the Dominican Republic.

Melendez will be a panelist for the event's discussion on Dominican baseball, as will DRSEA co-founder Charles S. Farrell, along with several other panel guests.

Mr. Farrell has worked with diversity and equity in sports for many years. He is a founder at Sports Perspectives International and directed Rainbow Sports, a division of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. He has testified before Congress on racial equity in sports and been published many times on the issue. Mr. Farrell first worked with MLB on Dominican baseball in 2000 and then again in 2004.

In a phone conversation with the Dominican Baseball Guy, Mr. Farrell recalled those first conferences and why he decided to start the DRSEA. “The first question that prospects asked was ‘how do I open a bank account?’ After that my partner Harold [Mendez] and I came up with the concept for an academy, and our end goal was that education is the critical thing.

“We figured we could use these guy’s baseball skills to get them into colleges, and even if they did not make it in baseball, they would have the education and could return to the Dominican Republic and be leaders of their communities.”

Mr. Farrell moved to the Dominican Republic in 2008 to work full time on getting the DRSEA off the ground. “We developed an education program for the DRSEA that includes English, math, history, but also critical thinking and the ability to analyze information effectively. The culture shock [for a Dominican player coming to the US] in itself can be horrendous. Anything you can do to help educate them to help make decisions on their feet is a positive.”

Farrell feels that MLB and baseball investors have the responsibility to help educate their Dominican prospects. “Any entity that invests $125 million into a community has a responsibility to do something positive. They are getting a lot out of the country, so I think education is the least they can provide for the players. And only the Pirates have a mandatory education program for Dominican prospects.”

Farrell hopes MLB teams continue to improve educational aspects fo their development programs, but he is not going to wait around on the teams.  The DRSEA plans to provide high level high school educations to Dominican baseball prospects. The goal is to open in September. The DRSEA plans to share facilities with a local school and a local baseball academy until they raise enough money to have their own facilities.

Farrell wants kids to realize that both baseball and education are options:

We are looking for that kid whose objective is to get an education AND play baseball. That’s really our goal is to develop top-notch college players, and if they reach a level where they can play professionally then fine. We want them to have the option like US high school players that get drafted. They can choose to go strait to the minor leagues, or they can say ‘I want to go to college and play and get my education and then go to the professional ranks.’ Isn’t it great to have that option?

Farrell is excited about the possibilities DRSEA can bring to Dominican youth ballplayers. He is also ready for the event in New York on Friday: “It is a two-fold event, to have a moment to honor Lou Melendez, and a critical discussion about what is going on in Dominican Baseball.”

The mission of the DRSEA is "to educate young and gifted student athletes in the Dominican Republic, help develop their baseball skills and give them the tools to success in life on and off the field." The DRSEA aims to prepare boys to have the opportunity for college scholarships through its educational programs. Please visit the DRSEA website for more info on the conference and/or to make a donation.

Dominican model Glenny Rosado

The Dominican Baseball Guy really has no idea who Glenny Rosado is, but every once in a while even the Dominican Baseball Guy needs a break from blogging about baseball in the Dominican Republic.

She does not even have a wikipedia page. She does have a Glenny Rosado Facebook page, but it does not have any more information, although it does have a few more photos. It appears that she is a promotional model and maybe some print.

The Facebook page says she is from El Seibo, Dominican Republic, which is just outside San Pedro de Macoris. If anyone knows anything else about this Dominican model, please leave a comment. Enjoy the pics of this Dominican model.

Dominican model Glenny Rosada

Modelo Dominicana Glenny Rosado, photo by Luis Garcia G.

Glenny Rosado, and some other Dominican models, courtesy of  http://www.facebook.com/Glenny.Rosado

Dominican baseball player of the week: Alfonso Soriano

And the much anticipated Dominican baseball player of the week for the week of June 4th-10th goes to Dominican Alfonso Soriano.  He has been featured many times on the Dominican Baseball Guy blog.  Alfonso Soriano honored his late mother last May and he was featured as the best paid Dominican athlete last April.

Soriano has been one of the top Dominican baseball players of his generation.  He is a seven time all-star and four time Silver Slugger.  He is a three time player of the month and five times player of the week.  So, the Dominican Baseball Guy's Dominican Player of the Week award is another feather in his cap.

Too bad the Cubs are not having a better year, as they are the worst team in baseball, and they even have a worse record than the Dominican Baseball Guy's lowly Houston Astros.  Take it from the DBG, that is bad.

As a cultural anthropologist the Dominican Baseball Guy was interested to note that Alfonso Soriano began his professional career in Japan.  He signed with the Hiroshima Toro Carp as a teen and first appeared as a professional for their senior side team in Japan.  After one year he left to the MLB and was signed by the Yankees in 1998.  And the rest is history.

Dominican baseball player Alfonso Soriano is from San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic.

Alfonso Soriano bats for the Cubs, by Michael Myers on Flickr

The Cano Baseball Experience: culture and baseball in the Dominican Republic

Yankees all-star and perennial MVP candidate Robinson Cano has been trained most of his life by his father.  While growing up and training in the Dominican Republic, Cano and his father have both lived and trained in the United States since Robinson started as a professional stateside.   The Canos have come to realize the benefits of understanding baseball and the culture of two countries.

The Canos are not alone in realizing the need and the market for cultural immersion activities around Dominican baseball.  People know that Dominicans are great at baseball and they know that the game occupies a central part of Dominican culture.  So, people want to learn more about the game and see more of Dominican baseball, whether it be in the United States or in the Dominican Republic.

In recent years there have been many groups involved in cultural immersion programs that feature Dominican baseball.  The TCU baseball team made a trip to play some games in the Dominican Republic.  A group of Arkansas baseball players took a missionary trip to the country.  Beyond the Game is a sports tourism company that leads trips to the Dominican Republic in which clients get a crash course in Dominican baseball and culture.

And of course, Major League Baseball and it's teams are growing their cultural development programs for Dominican players.  Even American players are learning Spanish and growing their baseball knowledge by learning more about baseball in the Dominican Republic.

So, in this tradition, Robinson Cano and his father are offering the Cano Baseball Experience.  From the website:

The Canó Baseball Experience (CBE) is a unique, authentic Dominican baseball experience. CBE is directed by Jose Canó, father of New York Yankees All-Star second baseman Robinson Canó and former Major League Baseball pitcher. After years of training Robinson, Jose and Robinson decided it would be great to share the experience of authentic Dominican baseball, Canó style. The goal of CBE is not only to instill and further the most core and fundamental baseball skills and instincts, but to also allow for an appreciation of the game and art of baseball. Your Canó Baseball Experience will last a lifetime, while testing and improving your baseball aptitude and allowing you to experience the methods that make Canó what he is.

So, the Cano Baseball Experience will be grounded more in growing baseball skills and aptitude.  But there will also be a cultural component in that American baseball players will be learning from a Dominican coach.  The Canos will also be offering the experience in Cano's hometown, San Pedro de Macoris.  So, players that choose to have the experience in San Pedro will be visiting one of the most historic baseball towns in the world, and be gaining invaluable cultural knowledge.

So, the Cano Baseball Experience also sees the immersion into Dominican baseball culture as an important aspect.  According to Robinson Cano:

My dad and I have been talking about giving kids a chance to experience baseball, the way I grew up learning it in the Dominican Republic; the whole idea of The Canó Baseball Experience is more than just baseball, its about culture and sharing the Dominican Republic with the kids of the US.

Visit the Cano Baseball Experience website to register:

Dominican player of the week: Rafael Furcal of the Saint Louis Cardinals

There is still one really good Dominican baseball player in Saint Louis, and his name is not Albert Pujols.  Cards fans are perhaps happy to have this other Dominican player this season with the way the two players seasons are going.

Rafael Furcal is by far outplaying Pujols thus far.  This week he played well enough to win the Dominican baseball player of the week.  In five games this week, Furcal hit .667, with 14 hits, 4 runs, 2 stolen bases.  He added a couple walks to up his on-base percentage to .696.

He has been in the big leagues for 13 seasons, and Furcal is off to one of his hottest starts ever.  He is batting .383 with 16 RBI through 33 games.  His on-base percentage is pushing .450.  But, this will never hold up.  His career high average for a season that he played a full work load is .300, which came back in 2006 and 2008.

Furcal is what he is: a well above average fielder and a quality top of the order hitter that also has lots of post season experience, and a World Series title.  While this start cannot hold up, it is good enough for the Dominican player of the week this week.

Furcal is from Loma de Cabrera, Dominican Republic.

Other Dominicans in week 4: Robinson Cano (.500, 3 2B, HR, 6 RBI) from San Pedro de Macoris.

Dominican player of the week Rafael Furcal with the Dodgers in 2010, photo by SD Dirk on Flickr

Dominican baseball player Jordany Valdespin makes debut for Mets

Ranked as the number six prospect in the Mets system at the start of the year, Dominican baseball player Jordany Valdespin made his debut with the big league club this week.  He is a career infielder, but the Mets brought him up to play some outfield and serve as an all-around utility player, a la Martin Prado in Atlanta or Emilio Bonifacio in Miami.

The Dominican baseball player Valdespin made his first appearance on Monday and also played on Thursday for the Mets.  He is yet to get on base in four at bats in those two games.  But people around the Mets organization have no doubts about his potential as a big league starter:

• “From a physical ability standpoint, he’s the closest thing to Jose Reyes,” said ex-Mets general manager Omar Minaya.
• “His skills? Off the charts,” said Mets manager Terry Collins. 

Valdespin is from San Pedro de Macoris, Republica Dominicana.  His Dominican background led him to befriend fellow Dominican baseball player Jose Reyes.  The two met when Valdespin came to Mets spring training in 2010.  Reyes has counseled Valdespin about on-field issues, but also encouraged him to grow and mature off the field.

In this mentor role, Jose Reyes is continuing a tradition of established Dominican baseball players counseling young and up and coming Dominican players.  David Ortiz has been known as a mentor for young Dominicans for many years, and others have done the same.  It is a major transition for Dominican baseball players new to the big league game, and the country more generally.

Dominican baseball players like Jose Reyes and David Ortiz are doing a great service for their countrymen by helping to ease the transition for young players such as Jordany Valdespin.

Dominican baseball player Jordany Valdespin in the minor leagues in 2011, photo by Paul Hadsall on Flickr

Latin baseball players celebrate Jackie Robinson day, Latinos celebran el dia de Jacki Robinson

Latin and Dominican baseball players celebrated Jackie Robinson Day on Sunday, along with all of Major League Baseball.  The entire league wore Robinson's number 42.

It is well known that Robinson was the first African-American to play in the big leagues, and that he opened the door for all the black baseball players after him.  However, Latin baseball players have also seen Robinson as a pioneer, because before him there were very few Latin players admitted into MLB.

There were some Latin players that played in the big leagues, often because they "looked" white, but for the most part Jackie Robinson is the reason that Latin baseball players were later admitted into the league.  And current players know this.

Giants Venezuelan outfielder Gregor Blanco summed up what Jackie Robinson day means to Latin baseball players:

"This is a very special day for all Latin players," Blanco said. "It means a lot to be able to wear his number. He opened up opportuntiies for eveyone and not only helped baseball but also helped the world."

Elsewhere, Dominican player Robinson Cano celebrated in New York, as other Dominicans throughout the league surely did.  Robinson Cano is from San Pedro de Macoris, the major baseball city in the Dominican Republic.  

Happy Jackie Robinson Day!  All of MLB whore his #42 Sunday

Dominican baseball player Johnny Cueto to open season for Reds, Dominicano lanza por Rojos hoy

As the Dominican Baseball Guy writes Dominican pitcher Johnny Cueto has opened the season for the Reds, as their ace.  Thus far, he has a 0.00 ERA...through 3 innings...

Cueto had a 2.34 ERA in 150 plus inning last year, and has improved every year he has been in the big leagues.  He thinks he is ready to be the ace.  The Dominican Baseball Guy agrees.

According to Marc Sheldon and MLB.com:

Cueto, a native of the Dominican Republic, did not speak English publicly and was initially uneasy with the adjustment to life at the top level of the game. He missed home cooking, among other things, and gravitated to fellow Dominicans on the team like Volquez, who became his best friend.

These are exactly the kind of issues that MLB team cultural education programs are trying to address, as with the Brewers cultural development program for Latin and Dominican players.  Johnny Cueto is not alone among Dominican baseball players in "missing home cooking."  As the Dominican Baseball Guy just blogged, lack Dominican food is one of the big adjustments that Dominican players have to make  as big leaguers.

Only a few teams have cultural development programs where players learn things like English, and how to adjust to culture shock of new food.  The Dominican Baseball Guy would venture to guess that the Reds did not have one at this time (please correct me if I am mistaken).  So, like other Dominican baseball players, Cueto learned the ropes of the big leagues, and the "American Culture," from fellow Dominican Edinson Volquez who had already been through the same process.

Dominican beisbol player Johnny Cueto is from the famed San Pedro de Macoris, Republica Dominicana.

Dominican baseball player Johnny Cueto will open the season as the Reds' ace,
photo by Wknight94

Rangers hoping another young Dominican pitcher works out well after success of Dominican pitcher Ogando

Alexi Ogando made the switch from outfield to pitcher after the Rangers signed him as an outfielder back in 2005.  After the whole fake birth certificate fiasco, Ogando made his way to the states, and on to the big league roster as a closer.  After one year as a closer, he moved to the starting rotation, and made an All-Star team and pitched in a World Series.

Another young Dominican pitcher is hoping to have similar success in the Rangers system.  Johan Yan had a breakthrough year last in AA.  He pitched some as a closer and some as a starter.  Yan is still developing as a pitcher, so the Rangers are not sure where he will land in the big leagues.  But either as a starter or closure, the Rangers think he will be their next big time Dominican pitcher, to go along with Ogando and Neftali Feliz, just to name two.

Ogando and Yan are both from the famed city of San Pedro de Macoris.  Feliz is from Azua, Dominican Republic.

Johan Yan hopes to follow in steps of fellow Dominican pitcher Alexi Ogando (seen here), photo by mjl816 on Flickr

Twins' Dominican players news: Miguel Sano ready for first full season, Liriano inconsistent in Spring Training, two Dominican Summer League prospects get 50 game suspensions

Apparently yesterday was lets talk about the Minnesota Twins and all their Dominican baseball players.  First, the news broke that two Twins minor leaguers were suspended for use of performance enhancing drugs, both are young Dominican prospects.  Yeison Florentino and Ezequiel Zarzuela have both performed well with the Twins Dominican Summer League team, but have yet to make the trip to the states.  However, they are still subject to MLB drug testing as players in the Dominican Summer League.

Over the counter and illegal supplements are common in the Dominican Republic.  For years, trainers, also known as buscones, gave their players supplements and the players rarely followed up on what they were putting in their bodies.  Busones have admitted to giving their players animal steroids and other over the counter supplements that were not intended to be used for healthy humans.  Further, Many Dominican baseball players have tested positive for various drugs since the MLB drug testing program got under way, and that is only the ones that have gotten caught in recent years.

These practices have been slowing down in recent years, as buscones and Dominican players have become more educated as to the dangers of PEDs.  So, hopefully these two players realize their mistake and are able to share their experience with other Dominican prospects.

Second, it was reported that Francisco Liriano has been inconsistent in Spring Training.  Make that for his whole career.  Francisco Liriano was the AL Roookie of the Year and an All-Star in 2006.  He then missed all of 2007 with Tommy John surgery.  He had below average years after coming back in 2008 and 2009.  Rhen he got the Comeback Player of the Year award in 2010, after dominating in the Dominican Winter League (LIDOM) that off-season.  And then he had a sub-par year last season.  So, his inconsistency in Spring Training is not surprising.  He is a serviceable end of the rotation starter, even when he plays bad, so he will get his chances this year.  Liriano is from San Cristobal, Dominican Republic.

Lastly, it was reported that Dominican prospect Miguel Sano will be playing his first full year with the Twins organization.  There was much hoopla surrounding the signing of Miguel Sano, and he was even featured in the Dominican baseball documentary Pelotero.  Miguel started in the Twins Dominican baseball academy and played in the Dominican Summer League.  He spent last year in short season Rookie and A ball, but will see a full season of A ball this year, and could easily move up the minor league ranks.  Sano talks about adjusting to a change of position (short stop to probably third), adjusting to the long season, and learning a new language.  The Dominican Baseball Guy agrees with most and sees Sano as a can't miss Dominican prospect, so we should see him in the majors soon.  Miguel Sano is from San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic.

Cubs Dominican prospect Lake hopes to join Dominican baseball player Starlin Castro on Cubs roster

Starlin Castro has progressed faster than pretty much any prospect ever.  He was an everyday player at age 20.  This is a few times in a generation anomaly in baseball.  Ken Griffey, Jr. and Barry Bonds were able to do it, but only one or two players every year make an impact like Castro has made at the age of 20.

Junior Lake hopes to join his long time friend in the big leagues soon.  The Dominican Baseball Guy has been hearing about Lake for several years.  Castro and Lake grew up together, both playing in the Cubs Dominican baseball academy in 2007.  They then made the move to the states and played for the Cubs rookie ball team together.

But Castro matured faster and caught on with the big league club in just his second year with the organization.  He has hit .300 both years, and is a plus defender.  Lake remains in the Cubs minor league system, and had a good year at AA last year.  Junior Lake is one of the top prospects in all of minor league baseball.

Lake hopes to play with Castro in the majors some day soon.  They have a mutual respect for each other, and both feel that Lake can play on the major league level.  Most in the Cubs organization and in the rest of major league baseball seem to agree.  The only question is when Junior Lake will become a Cub.

Lake says he hopes to make the jump from AA to the majors this season.  Junior Lake is from San Pedro de Macoris, Republica Dominicana.  Castro is from Monte Cristi.

Dominican baseball player Junior Lake hopes to join the Cubs this year, photo by  Tom Haggerty for LakelandLocal.com

Cubs top minor leaguers features 5 Dominican prospects

A recent article listed the top 30 Cubs prospects going into the 2012 season.  Five of the Cubs top 30 minor leaguers are Dominican players.

The highest rated Dominican prospect in the Cubs system is Junior Lake .  Lake is close with fellow Cubs Dominican player Starlin Castro and hopes to join Castro with the Cubs this year.  He has hit .300 in both of his two years in the Cubs system, and hopes to make the jump from AA to the big leagues this year.  According to the list, Lake is the number nine overall prospect in the Cubs system.  Lake is from San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic.

The other top Dominican prospects in the Cubs system were Jeimer Candelario, Marco Hernandez, Wellington Castillo, Rafael Dollis.

Dominican baseball player Junior Lake is the Cubs top Dominican prospect, photo by  Tom Hagerty for LakelandLocal.com

Dominican closer Jose Valverde on long saves streak, Lanzador Dominicano Jose Valverde jugando bueno

Jose Valverde is known for his crazy antics on the mound.  A converted save opportunity is usually followed by wild legs kicks, squats, and yelling at the sky.  His nickname is "Papa Grande" and Valverde has converted 51 strait save chances over the last two years.  The record is 84 strait saves, set by Eric Gagne.

The Dominican Baseball Guy has been following Valverde since he first broke into the big leagues with the Diamondbacks.  He has saved over 40 games with the Diamondbacks, the Astros, and now the Tigers.

Valverde's crazy personality on the mound is genuine.  His friends say he likes things loud and fast, whether on the field or off the field.  He drives fast cars and listens to the music loud.

Jose says it is a long way to get to the save streak record, but he is going to try.  Jose is from the great baseball city of San Pedro de Macoris, Republica Dominicana.

Dominican baseball player Jose Valverde at Spring Training 2011,
by Tom Hagerty for LakelandLocal.com

David Ortiz mentor to Robinson Cano and other younger Dominicans, David Ortiz es mentor para Dominicanos jovenes

David Ortiz has been an ambassador of Dominican baseball and Latin baseball since he busted on the scene with his first all-star campaign in 2004.  While he has been spreading the word of Dominican baseball to American fans and representing the game for all Dominicans, he has also served as a mentor to up and coming Dominican players.

The Dominican Baseball guy blogged on David Ortiz and his relationship with Hanley Ramirez a few months back.  Ramirez came up with the Red Sox and Ortiz showed him the big league ropes early in his career.

Ortiz has a similar relationship with Robinson Cano.  David Ortiz and Robinson Cano first met at a stadium in the Dominican Republic over ten years ago.  Cano remembers the meeting fondly, and says they have had a tight relationship ever since.  Ortiz gives him advice and even picked him for his team in the 2011 home run derby.

According to Ortiz:

“I look at him like a little brother,” said Ortiz. “It’s great. I really try to get along with everybody around me and since the first time I saw him, I saw how hard he was trying to be a good player and came to be who he is today. I always have open hands for people like that.”

Cano hopes to continue the cycle of good will and serve as a mentor to future young Dominican players.

David Ortiz es de Santo Domingo, Robinson Cano es de San Pedro de Macoris, and Hanley Ramirez es de Samana.

David Ortiz bats with the Boston Red Sox

Dominican Luis Terrero wins MVP of Mexican Baseball League, Dominicano gana jugador más valioso de la Liga Mexicana de Béisbol

Liga Mexicana de Béisbol (LMB) or the Mexican Baseball League is considered by most to be in the top 5 leagues in the world.  It is made of independent teams throughout central and eastern Mexico.  The league is endorsed and affiliated with Major League Baseball as an official minor league, however, the teams that make up the league are not affiliated with MLB teams, as are the minor league teams stateside.

This unique relationship actually means that it is probably a higher level of baseball in the Mexican League, because the teams play to win and not to develop players.  This is much as the case is with the Dominican League of Winter Baseball.  So, along with the NIPON profesional league in Japan, and the Venezuelan and Mexican winter leagues, this AAA Mexican Baseball League and the LIDOM are the of the top leagues in the world.  The Dominican Baseball Guy commented on the top baseball leagues in the world a while back.

A number of big name stars have played in the LMB towards the end of there careers, most notably in terms of Dominican players the great Julio Franco.

And, to get to the point of this blog post!  Dominican Luis Terrero was named the MVP of the Mexican Baseball League today.  Check out these silly numbers: .390 average, 38 home runs, and 110 RBI in just 97 games.  Yea, the Dominican Baseball Guy thinks the pitching down there may not be up to the level of an ex-MLB guy like Terrero.  He spent three years in the majors from 2003-07 with the Diamondbacks, Orioles, and White Sox.  See Luis Terrero minor league baseball page.

Terrero is from Barahona and Franco is from San Pedro de Macoris.

Peloterro Dominicano Luis Terrero, by javYliz on Flickr

Happy Birthday former Ranger-Met-Brave-Escogido player Julio Franco, feliz cumpleaños Dominicano Julio Franco

The Big League Stew rightfully gave big ups to one of the Dominican Baseball Guy's favorite players of all time this week, as Julio Franco turned 53 years old today.  The Dominican Baseball Guy first became a fan of Julio Franco during his early years with the Texas Rangers.  He pushed .400 one year, and was considered one of the top five players in the game during these years from 1989-1991.

He had 2,586 career hits in MLB, but had over 4,000 in his career while playing in several leagues.  He obviously spent some time in the minors as everyone does, but also played in Japan, Mexico, and in the best winter league around-the Dominican League of Winter Baseball (LIDOM) for Escogido.

Franco may be best know for his crazy over the head batting stance.  Kindred spirit of The Dominican Baseball Guy, The Batting Stance Guy, does perhaps one of his best impressions of Franco here.

After 2500 MLB games and God knows how many total games, Julio still has the hunger to be involved in the game.  Since his retirement in 2008, he has managed in the Mets minor league system as well as managing in the Venezuelan winter league.  He hopes to eventually get a big league gig as a manager for an MLB team.

Franco is from San Pedro de Macoris, the cradle of shortstops.  The Dominican Baseball Guy comments on San Pedro seemingly weekly, because the talent never stops flowing out of this baseball capital in the Dominican Republic.  See the tag for more on San Pedro de Macoris, the hometown of Alfredo Griffin, Robinson Cano, and Franco, among many more.

Happy Birthday Julio!

Julio Franco with the Atlanta Braves in 2006