The Arizona Diamondbacks Major League organization inaugurated this Monday, November 18, new facilities within its complex in Las Américas, in the community of Boca Chica and with an investment of 20 million dollars, in a ceremony that was attended by President Luis Abinader.
The new Diamondbacks Academy has the capacity to house 100 players, in addition to the baseball staff and personnel.
It is the first MLB academy in the Dominican Republic to have lighting on its main field. The facility has an athletic building that includes a gym, locker rooms, hydromassage area, training room, bedrooms for players and staff, dining room, administrative building, locker rooms for referees, 3 playing fields and an agility field and an educational building with 4 classrooms where players attend high school and English classes after practice.
It also has special areas for players trying out, such as locker rooms and rooms designed specifically for them.
The president and CEO of the team, Derick Hall, in the central words of the event, thanked President Abinader for the climate of peace that prevails in the country, praised the academy staff and greeted Junior Noboa for being one of his first employees.
One of the stadiums within the complex is named after Junior Noboa Field, who excitedly declared: “The truth is that they have surprised me with this act, thanks to the Arizona managers for believing in me, for valuing my work, to President Luis Abinader for believing in the baseball industry, truly thank you all for this nice gesture, of having a baseball stadium named after me.”
The Dbacks’ educational program was a pioneer in the education model within baseball academies, since players, in addition to developing as athletes, also have the opportunity to complete their high school studies, English classes and training programs.
This initiative arose as a result of a promise made by Ken Kendrick and Derrick Hall in 2013. Since that year, to date, there have been 10 graduations where 102 players have obtained their high school diploma from the educational program offered by the Academy.
At this Monday’s event, the directors of the National League team gathered, including the president and CEO, Derick Hall; Mike Hazen, executive vice president; also Cullen Maxey; Junior Noboa, vice president for Latin America and National Baseball Commissioner; Mariana Patraca, Manager International Baseball Operations and Scouting; César Gerónimo, Vice President of Scouting and Player Development for Latin America.
In addition to the Minister of Sports, Kelvin Cruz; Jorge Pérez Díaz, vice president of MLB and Yerik Pérez, of the MLB Office in the country; the senator of San Cristóbal Gustavo Lara; General Jacobo Mateo Moquete.
Also, the president of the Cibao Giants, Alfredo Acebal; from Lidom Valentín Contreras, from Licey, Miguel Ángel Fernández, and the players Emilio Bonifacio, Geraldo Perdomo, José Valverde, Luis “Pipe” Urueta, Jordan Norberto, Wellington Cepeda, Joel Noboa, Miguel Batista, Sócrates Brito, Manny García, Israel Alcántara , Jordan Lawlar, among others.
