The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

The Pinewood Sports Complex is set to receive a major upgrade due to several groups of investors and Bahamian Major League Baseball (MLB) player Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm.

The Miami Marlins infielder hosted a groundbreaking ceremony at the fields yesterday in conjunction with representatives from his agency - RocNation Sports, International Elite Baseball Academy, Bahamas Baseball Association executives, and the Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture.

“We are going to touch all the fields, we are just starting here. We are going to touch Freedom Farm, touch JBLN [Junior Baseball League of Nassau], we are going to end up in Inagua if we have to, so let’s get it done,” Chisholm said.

“It’s a group effort between everybody that has something to do with this project. You have Magical Builders, RocNation Sports and coach Geron - he’s been there from day one. Mike Rodriguez from RocNation - you grabbed me when I was 18-19 years old and you told me I was going to make a lot of money and do this right. You have been fighting everybody for me, owners and GMs because you believed in me.”

Chisholm said he drew inspiration from all levels of Bahamian baseball, ranging from the young players he interacted with at Don’t Blink Home Run Derby in Paradise Kid’s Clinic mimicking his batting stance, to his fellow Bahamian professional players for their support.

“It’s been an emotional day and this is a truly touching moment. Seeing seven-year-old kids toe tapping like me. I’ve had major leaguers say to me they started toe-tapping when they saw me in the minor leagues and didn’t want to leg kick and I thought ‘oh, that’s cool’ but now I see so many young Bahamian kids, hundreds of them out there, who just want to be another Jazz Chisholm… today was a special day for me,” Chisholm said.

“I want to thank everyone for their support. From the little kids to my fellow Bahamian pro ball players, my brothers, you all don’t even understand what you all do for me. You guys all touch my heart. I have to thank the Prime Minister, the Minister of Sports for their support. I know it’s been a difficult time. Last but not least I have to thank my family. My grandmother, it’s all love, it’s all you and you always make my dreams come true. I always tell her she can’t leave me before I reach the Hall of Fame.”

Geron Sands, director of International Elite Academy, said the upgrade to the complex will serve the community, along with the young baseball and softball players of the academy. International Elite hosts its on-field training at the Pinewood Complex.

“This is something that we have been working on from a very long time from a community standpoint so we can get more kids out here playing baseball on an everyday basis. We also want people to know we will be having softball as well. It is a major part for our young ladies.

“For all the guys like Jazz Chisholm, Lucius Fox and the others, I get so many questions about the ladies. It’s something we plan to really focus on and we will have a softball park on this compound in the very near future,” Sands said.

“The idea is to have Jazz help renovate every park in The Bahamas. We know what can come from this, whether it’s a scholarship to help further your education or a professional contract, the game of baseball has the ability to change lives. We want to thank the Bahamian baseball community for their support, the Bahamas. The whole thing is to just help these kids to become productive citizens of our country and give back in any way they can.”

Bahamas Baseball Association secretary general, Teddy Sweeting, said the event marked another milestone for the sport in the country. “It’s an exciting time for baseball. Geron came to the association with great enthusiasm and he has the full support of our organisation to make sure that this process comes to fruition,” he said. “To see where we are headed in the sport of baseball is amazing. These young men are the catalysts but always be mindful of the young men coming up behind you, you lead the way.”

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg said the improvement of infrastructure is a major part of his administration’s platform.

“We want to build up this field and others like it to build up baseball all throughout this country, especially in the inner city. As minister of youth, sports and culture it is my responsibility to oversee that we create better facilities not only for baseball but for all sporting disciplines to find those diamonds in the rough,” he said. “They said ‘If you build it, they will come” so we have to do our part to build the facilities up to standard.”

Chisholm continues his community outreach efforts with iElite at the Pinewood Complex since he began his tenure with the Marlins organisation.

In January 2020, he hosted a clinic at the complex in conjunction with RocNation Sports where players received several hours of training in the fundamentals at various skill positions, including hitting, fielding and pitching, and participants were presented with give-aways of Marlins gear and memorabilia.