The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IT was a double treat for Breyias Dean and Daniel Gaitor as they both signed their professional contracts with the Miami Marlins organisation yesterday at the Crypto Isle in the former Luciana Restaurant.

The duo, wearing their blue suits, did the signing with Adrian Puig, the international crosschecker and Adrian Lorenzo, the director of international operations for the Marlins, along with Greg Burrows Jr of Max-D Sports.

For Dean, a former student at Charles W Saunders high School, he called it a lifelong dream being fulfilled.

“This feels great just to accomplish one of my goals,” he said. “It was a sense of relaxation and satisfaction knowing that I was finally able to achieve something that I was trying to achieve for so long.”

In signing with Gaitor at the same time was a plus for Dean, who said he’s delighted for the double threat because they both played together for a long time and they know each other very well.

“I’d like to thank my father (Marvin Dean) who was there training me, even before I got to MaxD,” said Dean, who considers himself to be a go-getter, at age 17.

Gaitor said having a chance to play professional baseball makes him a happy camper.

“I want to say a shout out to the people who came out to support me tonight, to the people at Freedom Farm, who really helped me. I really appreciate them,” he said.

“I was filled with joy. I was really happy when they told me I was going to sign this contract.”

Gaitor, a 17-year-old former student at Albury Sayles Primary, HO Nash Junior High and Bahamas Global Academy, thanked Burrows Jr, who helped to get him to where he is today.

He said he’s excited to sign with Dean as well.

“We’ve been together for a while,” Dean said. “Most of the boys in MaxD play together, so me and Breyias already have that bond. Hopefully it will be the D and B show when we get to training camp.”

Burrows Jr said he’s extremely proud because it’s the second year in a row that MaxD has been able to sign some of their players.

“I’m looking forward to seeing these two guys move up the ranks very quickly and make an impact in the organisation,” he said.

“They are going to go to training camp and make their presence felt. Daniel is a speed guy with power, a centre fielder and Breyias is a very powerful kid, who has the potential to put up 30 home runs a season, so I’m looking forward to seeing them grow into themselves and become the players they are expected to be.”

Having worked with the players for a number of years, Burrows Jr said it’s always s great feeling when they reach this point where they get to play at the next level, whether it’s in college or at the professional ranks.

Puig called it a special day for baseball in the Bahamas.

“One of the best parts of the job is when you get to celebrate, giving the young men an opportunity to fulfil their dreams, change their lives, change the lives of their families and so it’s really special to be here to support the Bahamian baseball community.”

In both players, Puig said they are getting some exceptional players.

“Breyias is as guy that I had my eyes on for almost three years. He’s always been a very big kid. Over the years he continued to grow, but he’s never lost his athleticism,” Puig said. “He continued to gain strength and he’s worked extremely hard on the defensive side of the ball, which is difficult for a guy his size. He’s shown a lot of offensive capabilities for us with a lot of power. He’s a great kid with a great work ethic.

“Daniel is a guy I started to see after Breyias. Daniel is a guy who every time we go to see him play, he’s been a big performer. He’s another very physical Bahamian athlete, switch hitting centrefielder who can run. He does a little of everything, He has the ability to be a very good player.”

Lorenzo said it’s another exceptional day, his third signing , but it’s even more special because of the process both players had to go through to get to this point in their careers.

“From this day on, they are professional baseball players so they have to be true professionals in every sense of the word,” Lorenzo said. “They have already gotten off to a great start, but around the second week in Florida, they will report to the Dominican Republic to enrol in their academy, which the Marlins just opened.

“They will play in the Dominican Summer League and then after that, the way they carry themselves will dictate where they will go after that. If they put themselves in a position to be ready for the next level, then they will go to Jupiter to play in the Florida Complex League should they check all of the boxes to play.”

Marvin Dean, the father of Breyias, said it’s hard to put his reaction into words because he’s been there just about every step of the way, coaching his son at MaxD and building that bond with him.

“To see him make this first step to fulfil his dream is just amazing,” said Dean, who was accompanied by his wife, Bernadette. “For me, the first thing for him to succeed is God. The next step is his family, after that is his career and helping others. As long as he keeps those principles in place, the sky is the limit.”

Dean’s signing came on his sister’s birthday. He sent out a shout out to Marvia, who is one of the top female basketball players in the island nation.