NewsWhore
05-11-2010, 03:50 PM
The Houston Astros have opened their new Latin American home in an inaugural ceremony attended by President Leonel Fernandez. Astros owner Drayton McLane, president of baseball operations Tal Smith, president of business operations Pam Gardner and general manager Ed Wade came for the grand opening ceremony.
"We're excited to be able to go and christen the facility," Wade said. "We think it's going to provide us with a perfect environment to continue to develop our Latin kids and have them prepared when the opportunity presents itself to come over here and perform."
The new Astros complex was constructed in the Guerra region of Santo Domingo and consists of 2-1/2 baseball fields, six pitching mounds, batting cages and an observation tower, along with other amenities.
The facility includes a two-story building that contains locker rooms, manager and coaches' offices, administrative offices, a dining room, a full-service industrial kitchen, a weight room, player and staff living accommodations, and a player entertainment room. In addition to developing young players' baseball skills, the Astros' new Latin American home will also help develop their educational skills and will feature a computer lab and classrooms.
The complex is half a mile away from the new Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers facilities and in the same general area as other Major League Dominican academies.
The players who sign with the Astros and are assigned to the Dominican academy will live there 10 months out of the year to make the most of the English lessons, as well as the nutrition the club will provide to allow the young players to properly grow into their bodies.
"The instructors are there 24/7, and hopefully it's a combination of the facilities, but also the staffing, the level of dedication we're going to bring to the table," Wade said.
The Astros' old Dominican operations were in San Pedro de Macoris.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#8)
"We're excited to be able to go and christen the facility," Wade said. "We think it's going to provide us with a perfect environment to continue to develop our Latin kids and have them prepared when the opportunity presents itself to come over here and perform."
The new Astros complex was constructed in the Guerra region of Santo Domingo and consists of 2-1/2 baseball fields, six pitching mounds, batting cages and an observation tower, along with other amenities.
The facility includes a two-story building that contains locker rooms, manager and coaches' offices, administrative offices, a dining room, a full-service industrial kitchen, a weight room, player and staff living accommodations, and a player entertainment room. In addition to developing young players' baseball skills, the Astros' new Latin American home will also help develop their educational skills and will feature a computer lab and classrooms.
The complex is half a mile away from the new Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers facilities and in the same general area as other Major League Dominican academies.
The players who sign with the Astros and are assigned to the Dominican academy will live there 10 months out of the year to make the most of the English lessons, as well as the nutrition the club will provide to allow the young players to properly grow into their bodies.
"The instructors are there 24/7, and hopefully it's a combination of the facilities, but also the staffing, the level of dedication we're going to bring to the table," Wade said.
The Astros' old Dominican operations were in San Pedro de Macoris.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#8)