The president of the Dominican Baseball Federation, Hector Pereyra announced the Dominican Republic will seek one of four baseball team slots in the year 2000 Sidney, Australia Olympics team that are open to teams from the Americas. "The DR seeks to win the gold and a slot along with the United States and Cuba. He said they have reached an agreement with the Major Leagues, the Union of Major League Baseball Players, the International Association of Amateur Baseball to allow professional players that are not in the roster of 40 of Major League teams to be eligible to make the national teams. The pre-selected Dominican team members are:Catchers: Henry Mercedes (Kansas City) Jorge Brito (Milwaukee) Francisco Morales (Montreal)Pitchers: Dar?o P?rez (Marlins) Nelson Cruz (Detroit) Fernando Hern?ndez (Arizona) Hector Ram?rez (Milwaukee) M?ximo N??ez (Tampa Bay) Benito B?ez (Oakland) Pascual Cocco (Toronto) Joaqu?n Benoit (Texas) H?ctor Almonte (Marlins) John Germ?n (Mets) Julio Aquino (Tampa Bay) Francisco Montero (Phillies) Jos? Bautista (Montreal) Carlos Medina (Baltimore) Otoniel Lanfranco (St. Louis). Infielders: F?lix Mart?nez (Kansas City) Roberto Mej?a (Dodgers) Rafael Bournigal (Texas) Fausto Cruz (Anaheim) Luis Ortiz (Milwaukee) Pablo Ozuna (Marlins) Tilson Brito (White Sox) Carlos Pe?a (Texas). Fielders: Luis Polonia (Detroit) Israel Alc?ntara (Boston) Omar Ram?rez (Houston) Ruddy Pemberton (St. Louis) Jovino Carvajal (Anaheim) Jos? Herrera (Boston) Technical support, F?lix Ferm?n, team director, Pablo Peguero, general manager; Mario Melvin Soto, pitching coach, and Hector Acevedo, coach.
