The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE United States Embassy, in partnership with the Junior Baseball League of Nassau (JBLN), hosted a baseball skills presentation and youth outreach clinic at the JBLN “Field of Dreams” this weekend.

The clinic featured former Major League Baseball (MLB) players Elias Sosa and Armando Rios, and focused on baseball fundamentals, including hitting, pitching, fielding techniques and game scrimmages.

Sosa, who was an MLB pitcher for 12 years, has worked as a Minor League pitching coach for several teams. He is currently the Latin American co-ordinator for MLB International.

“The purpose for this programme is to develop baseball in countries where they need development, equipment, coaching and basically anything they need to develop the game of baseball. I was very impressed with all these kids’ enthusiasm,” he said.

“I would have never thought, in my many years, that they play baseball at this level in this area. I see a lot of guys with a future in baseball, I see a lot of talent, we are just here to help with that development.”

He also works directly with Latin American Baseball Federations to coordinate programmes and send envoys to work with youth at all levels.

“We need to teach the coaches and the parents, they are the ones that play a big role in keeping the enthusiasm. They have to work together. We don’t want all this fighting about whose kid is not playing for whatever reason, we want them to enjoy the game and most of all to learn the game The coaches they need to have a programme, they need to have a code of ethics and organisation,” Sosa said.

“The coaches need the support of the parents and vice versa. They need to work together and understand the programme.”

Rios played in the Minor League from 1994-1998 before moving up to MLB to play for the San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox.

He currently serves as a youth baseball league coach, scout, recruiter and hitting instructor for professional baseball players.

“Every time we step on the field to practice our goal is to teach to play the game the right way, the fundamentals, the basics especially at this age. For these younger guys, it’s pretty much just repetition and understanding what they have to do. It’s all about teaching them the right way and having them do that over and over and over,” he said. “I can see that they know how to play ball, it’s just a matter of getting the fundamentals and repetition.”

Rios is also the instructor for MLB’s International Envoy Programme for Latin America.

“Baseball is baseball all over the world. We go to Europe, Latin America, the United States and the game is the same. We are just trying to teach the right way to do it now at the ground level so when they are older it will be an easy transition. The guys here have the potential, they’re tall, they’re lean, they’re strong, they have the potential and it’s a matter of just developing,” he said.

“As a coach I follow baseball like everyone else, but our job now is going around to areas like this and etching the game and sharing that knowledge the best way we know how.”

Dozens of players throughout the Bahamas attended the event which featured a presentation by the MLB development team on opening night, followed by two days of the clinic.

Renowned JBLN coach Bertram Murray said the players were very receptive to the visiting MLB development staff .

“For the kids it’s very important. It’s an excellent opportunity for the kids to hear a different voice. It’s the same message, the repetition. It’s good to recognise that these guys have been in the majors and what they are imparting are things that will help the players, parents and the coaches in years to come,” he said. “We are very appreciative of the embassy, Mr Sosa and Mr Rios for sharing their knowledge with us.”