The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

SEVERAL Bahamian minor league baseball players have used their platform to bring awareness to the plight of Hurricane Dorian victims to their respective fanbases.

Jazz Chisholm, the Miami Marlins’ No.4 prospect, and Ian Lewis, the latest Bahamian to sign to the club when he did so last July, were on hand at Marlins Park Tuesday to assist in a relief drive by the club during their game against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The drive concludes at the end of the homestand tonight at Marlins Park. “We’re grateful for the support of Miami. Seeing videos and pictures, from our friends from all the islands send the videos, was really heartbreaking so when I see the community come together and help us at a time of need like this,” Chisholm told Fox sports. “We’re here to donate, show support to our islands, our family and friends and thank the people of Miami.”

With the Double A season over, Chisholm is currently in the instructional league, but told MLB.com he plans to return home at his first available opportunity.

“We want to thank everyone for their donations and helping our island,” Lewis said. “We really appreciate it. We couldn’t ask for a better support team.”

The Miami Marlins Foundation is donating all 50/50 raffle proceeds, and it will match the funds raised, to the relief efforts. In addition, fans attending the games at Marlins Park can donate $1 at any Marlins Park concession stand and round up their purchases for donations at the Marlins Park retail stores.

These donations will be matched by the Miami Marlins Foundation as well.

The club’s goal is to “just create as much awareness as we can for our friends in the Bahamas,” said Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill. “This whole homestand has been a concerted effort to try to bring as many supplies as possible to be able to help a hurricane-ravaged country. It hits close to home for us, with three Bahamian players that we have in the organisation.”

The organisation currently has three Bahamians in its farm system, including Anfernee Seymour. Chisholm and Seymour were teammates with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp at the Double A level while Lewis awaits his first assignment.

“[It’s] definitely an area that will continue to be on our radar,” Hill said. “The situation that happened with Hurricane Dorian, and a situation where the Marlins are trying to be proactive and do everything in our power to help as best we can.”