MLB leaves 18 and 20 year old players in limbo

By George Ortiz Former Supervisor Angels– Pirates

We began to congratulate the Newspapers of this country (PR) for covering so magnificently the MLB showcase for the baseball players that will be eligible in the 2016 and 2017 draft.

MLB is bringing the same international program and I am delighted by all those who participated in this workout to evaluate our players.

Dalvin Perez is the best for the next draft, he participated in the Dominican showcase with the IDPL where they put him to play with 60 supervisors and Directors of International Scouting watching at the draft in DR on July 2nd, where they evaluated 16 year old prospects.

When I was in DR last November, presenting 18-20 year old Puerto Rican ballplayers to the different organizations of MLB at the International, scouts and supervisors from DR began to speak to me about Dalvin Perez. To say that many of them pass through the program of MLB in DR.

But 50 who enjoy in PR of those benefits of MLB and which were submitted to the supervisors from the draft that came to Cayey to evaluate them in the showcase because they are eligible for the 2016 draft and also those for the 2017 and 2018, I congratulate all those who benefited and will benefit from this project of MLB.

But who evaluates the 18-20 year old ones and who will congratulate them? Because they are not in the same boat of those who participated at the last week draft in Cayey. Those who are been ignored were those that were signed during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. Dalvin Perez, when he was interviewed, he very well said: «I am very proud to be here in this showcase because this opportunity is something others do not have» and I quote. But sure, others with the age from 18 to 20, no, they do not have that opportunity, they were eliminated 28 years ago, talented one are leaving them in limbo, with no chance whatsoever because even in Dominican Republic are beginning to have problems with 18 and 20 year olds, because of the signing of 16 year old prospects.

Remember that when in PR, 15 or 20 baseball players are signed in the draft; there in International signed around 100 players a year. Also counting the 60 signs in the Dominican Republic.

We have to understand that Puerto Rico is going through very difficult situation with those who are left behind. They have also rights like the others who were in this MLB showcase, where the ballplayer of 18 to 20 years of age may also have an opportunity of equality as the other 50 that are in the list of high school prospects.

I wish that all from the LAI, who were there in this showcase, leave them in limbo as well. Whenever I read and find an MLB executive like as Joel Araujo speaking about looking for equality and benefits for the young people in PR, I laugh so hard with all that blah, blah, blah.

They close the doors to those with good talent because all the opportunities are gone here in PR because there is only one room for those who are eligible for the draft and while I am reading all that blah, blah and nonsense that are sold in promotion without bringing a solution to this debacle and decline of Puerto Rican baseball players in MLB and everything that speaks the MLB executive is addressing to one single thing in the draft, without any solution to fix the problem of the lacking of signatures of these 18-20 year old players.

I ask Joel Araujo, why MLB International does not raise the ages from 16 to 17 years? Why not establishing a rule where all 30 teams of the League of «DR Summer League» can have at least three players from Puerto Rico in the roster? We need an equality of conditions just like international has. There is not enough space for these many players. This is why I say and I understand that MLB will not look for a formula of to sum up baseball players from PR.

Luis «Tite» Arroyo (RIP) An example of a great human being that often times I see him in the ballparks when we both worked as scouts and many times he said to me “why the 60 yards”, “the young player swings with power, does good fielding, and has good arm», sometimes never runs. God bless him and may he rest in peace.