Boston Red Sox pitching ace Pedro Martinez and power slugger David Ortiz
were in Santo Domingo on Tuesday, 9 December to take part in the dedication
ceremonies for the RD$100-million Boston Red Sox Baseball Academy, located at
Km. 25 of the Carretera Mella (El Toro), north of Santo Domingo. President
Hipolito Mej?a was on hand for the formal inauguration, along with the president
of the Boston Red Sox, John Henry; the team?s general manager, Theo Epstein;
pitcher, Luis Tiant; the Alou brothers; Ram?n Mart?nez; Junior Noboa; and Cesar
Cede?o, among others. At the event, Boston?s John Henry highlighted that the
goal is not only to develop quality ballplayers, but to teach life lessons that
would make them into better human beings.
The academy can accommodate 65 youths and give them a head start in adapting to
the US baseball system, in the event they are signed.