The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas continues to produce elite baseball talent and added another group of young men to the expanding list of local players to sign minor league contracts with Major League franchises.

Ian Lewis (Miami Marlins), Everett Cooper (Houston Astros) and Dax Stubbs (Baltimore Orioles) each signed with their respective franchises as the International Signing period got underway on July 2.

Lewis, Cooper and Stubbs, all products of the International Elite Sports Academy, announced their signings during a press conference last night at the Baha Mar Convention Center, while Bannister made his official announcement Tuesday night at Bahamas Harvest Church.

Lewis signed the most lucrative contract of the group and reached a $950,000 agreement with the Marlins, third among the team’s group of international signees this week.

“With the support of my loving family I’m living my greatest testimony. Through the tough times we made it through and I have a smile on my face knowing I made you proud,” he said.

“To the younger generation, you are hard working young men and I wish you guys the best. Being blessed with this moment is a heartfelt opportunity that is over five years in the making. I just want to thank the Miami Marlins organisation for giving me this opportunity and I promise to work harder than ever toward achieving my goals of playing in the major leagues.”

Adrian Lorenzo, Marlins’ special assistant of Baseball Operations, expressed his excitement at Lewis’ potential and the growth of baseball in the Bahamas. “It’s an exciting day for the Miami Marlins. I think we are acquiring a franchise player. A player the city of Miami and the entire Bahamas can be proud of.

“You can tell early on, the gracefulness in his actions, the way he moved, the athleticism, the way he hit. It’s been such a pleasure to follow him through this process and to see him grow and develop to the young man he’s become, it’s pretty special,” he said.

“This baseball market is a particular passion project of mine to make sure the players from this country continue to develop. I want to point that out so people can appreciate what’s been going on here, to develop this baseball market in such a short amount of time is quite a testament to what is going on in the Bahamas.”

Stubbs was one of 27 Orioles signees on International Signing day and he thanked his family and the coaching staff at I-Elite.

“My fellow I-Elite brothers continued to push me hard these last few years and I owe a lot to them,” he said.

“I just want them to continue to work hard, trust the process and I know there will be even more of us signing major league contracts.”

Calvin Maduro, Orioles international scout and pitching coach, said the franchise will continue to scout in the Bahamas after signing Stubbs and James Rolle this year.

“Thank God we got him,” he said. “I’m hoping we come back to the Bahamas and sign more guys. We have a new GM, we want to be active down here, we want to open the door to working with the Bahamas so hopefully more and more guys will receive the opportunity Dax and James have with our organisation.”

Cooper was one of 13 signees for the Astros on Tuesday. “This moment has been a dream of mine, now it’s a reality. I remember a few years ago everyone telling us it was not our time, now here we are,” he said. “This wasn’t an easy road, there were many hardships and challenges but I’m glad I can share this moment with Ian and Dax.”

The Astros front office could not be present but issued a statement through a video played at the announcement: “We are looking forward to a promising future. Everyone in the Bahamas should be as proud as we are to have Everett as a part of our organisation.

“The Bahamas has taken a big step forward with their talent and how they have prepared these kids to play the game of baseball.

I-Elite Sports Academy was founded by directors Geron Sands and Albert Cartwright. It provides an avenue for players between 11 and 17 years an opportunity to hone their skills with the view of playing at the professional level.

Zion Bannister has reached an agreement with the Texas Rangers. He becomes the latest Bahamian to join the Rangers programme which currently includes Keithron Moss and Courtney Smith.

The International Signing Period takes place from July 2 to June15, 2020.