Ground-breaking for Mets Academy

[NewsWhore]

President Leonel Fernandez and Sports Minister Jay Payano, together with New York Mets' chief operating office Jeff Wilpon, executive vice president Dave Howard and general manager Omar Minaya gave the symbolic first shovel of sand that marked the ground breaking for the construction of the 37-acre New York Mets Training Academy in Boca Chica. The academy will go up near 10 other baseball academies run by other Major League Baseball teams, in order to encourage a competitive schedule. It is ten minutes from Las Americas International Airport. At the ceremony, Minaya promised that the complex would serve not only as a recruiting program for the best talents, but these would also be guided to become great citizens. The design has been entrusted to architect Jose Mella Febles, and construction to Jesus Rodriguez Sandoval. The academy will include three regulation-size baseball playing fields. One of the fields will replicate the asymmetrical dimensions and wall height of Citi Field, the future world-class home of the Mets that is scheduled to open in April 2009. Some 60 players, their managers and coaches and 16 try-out players will be housed at the academy at any time.
With the construction of this US$7.5 million facility, the Mets strengthen their presence in the country. The Mets are looking to find the next Pedro Martinez or Jose Reyes, the Mets' 23-year old All-Star shortstop, who trained at the Mets' baseball academy that operates in San Cristobal. Wilpon forecasts that once the new facility opens, more talent might be flowing to the Mets.

More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)