The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

TRENT Deveaux, one of the 20 Bahamians now in the pipeline of Major League Baseball, returned to the Mario Ford Baseball Camp where he imparted to the campers how he got started right where they were on Windsor Field.

Last year, Deveaux signed a huge contract with the Anaheim Angels and is waiting to report to the training camp in Arizona next month. While he waits, he took the opportunity to participate in the opening day of the camp on Saturday. The camp is now into its 31st year.

“It means a lot to me. Obviously it’s not my first time being there and I plan to go there every time I come home,” Deveaux said. “I just wanted to show them where they can be if they really put their minds to it and work hard towards it.”

If there was one message that Deveaux left with the more than 30 participants at the camp is to remember to always put and keep God first in their lives.

“I told them how hard they have to work and that I was once right there in the camp when I was young,” he said. “When I said that, I saw their faces light up because they can really say that they have someone to look up to who came right out of the camp that they are playing in.”

He encouraged the parents to throw their support behind their children because without it, it’s going to be even harder for them to achieve their goals.

Ford, a relative of Deveaux, said it was good to have the pro player in the camp to motivate the young players.

“It was awesome,” Ford said. “The first day was nice because we had Trent come in and talked to the campers. He also got a chance to hit and field with them, which was the highlight for a lot of them. The kids really enjoyed it.”

Out of the campers, Ford said there were about 3-4 players who got the attention of Deveaux in their talent skills and he has wowed that he will do whatever he can to help them to get to the next level.

“This is what we need and I believe that his visit to the camp will have a lasting effect on a lot of the players,” Ford said.

He added that he has started a programme within the neighbouring primary schools at Centreville and EP Roberts Primary Schools and he’s hoping that he can get some financial support in helping him to improve on what has already started.

On March 1, Deveaux will be heading to Arizona to begin spring training with the Angels’ organisation. “I can’t wait because after that I will know which league I will play in,” Deveaux said. “I believe that I will start off in rookie ball, but I’m not concerned. I feel good because a lot of my goals that I set for myself have been met and so I just want to continue working on getting faster and stronger so that I can make an impact in my first season.”

Deveaux, 17, said everything is going great for him and after he was ranked at 25 when he was signed with the Angels, he’s hoping that he will move up to the top 10, which will enhance his chances of moving up the ladder in the organisation.

The camp will continue at 9am on Saturday at Windsor Field.