It is quite strange to hear –
“The Dominican Republic is one of the grand prize owners” but in baseball that's
just the way it is. Considering system of isolation in Cuba and self-sufficiency
of Japan in baseball with great financial support and well-funded league the
Dominican Republic has become the main supplier of strong players to MLB. Of
course, Dominican Baseball League remains rather weak because most players go
to the US teams. However, what would happen to baseball without such a great
number of talents from such a small country?
The Dominican League fulfils the same functions as
Puerto-Rican, two Mexican, Nicaraguan, Panamian, Venezuelan and Colombian
– they deliver strong players to MLB.
Therefore, you should not be surprised to the fact there are as many players
from Latin America in MLB as players from Brazil in football clubs of Europe.
Cuba is the only exception as baseball is an amateur
sport there and contacts with the professional clubs is strictly forbidden.
Visits abroad by Cuban teams’ players and national teams are strictly controlled.
But despite the fact there is punishment for attempt to
play the game in professional club, that is punished by lifelong discharge from
baseball some players do some tricks and leave the country with one main purpose
- to play in the MLB team. Of course, not all attempts are successful, so only
102 Cubans managed to play in MLB.
It is obviously, existing ban
allows to save strong players which helps to form strong lineup of Cuban League.
It must be noted, it takes the third position in physical training in baseball.
Every year, since 1949, the Caribbean Series are held
among the clubs to decide, which teams are the best ones. At first, this
competition was led by Cubans, but since Fidel Castro had forbidden
professional baseball on Liberty Island Cuba didn’t take part in the
competition. Currently, Dominicans, Mexicans, Puerto Ricans and Venezuelans participate
in these competitions.
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