Fred Wilpon, president of the New York Mets, announced in Santo Domingo yesterday that the team will build a baseball academy in the Dominican Republic to train young Dominicans. He said that the team expects to attract local players as well as other Latin American players to the training camp. The site has not been chosen yet. At a press conference held at the Hotel Jaragua, the Mets president said he wants to foster closer ties with the Dominican community living in New York. The Mets are represented in Santo Domingo by Eddy Toledo. Wilpon was accompanied in his visit by Dave Howard, senior vice president; Mark Bingham, senior vice president and director of marketing, radio and TV; Steve Phillips, general manager. Omar Minaya, assistant to the general manager of the Mets, said that the team plans to establish a working agreement with one of the six Dominican winter baseball league clubs. The Mets concluded their working agreement with the Licey Tigers last year.
