Orioles celebrate opening of Dominican training academy

SAN ANTONIO de GUERRA, Dominican Republic – Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias recited some of his club’s accomplishments earlier today – the best record in the American League and the top farm system in baseball getting their proper due – before redirecting his attention to the reason for the enormous gathering. The grand opening of their state-of-the-art training academy that attracted several of the country’s dignitaries and the club’s top officials.

“But,” Elias said with impeccable timing, “this is the most important achievement our group has made in these five years.”

The 22.5-acre complex is home to the Orioles’ regional facility for Caribbean, Central and South American player development operations, and includes three full fields, a sports turf agility field, batting and pitching tunnels, administrative buildings, dormitories and educational facilities. It can hold more than 100 players, coaches and staff, compared to 60-70 at the old facility in Boca Chica.

The project was led by landowner and developer Brian Mejia of Brison SRL, who choked up several times today and wiped away tears as he shared his mother’s wish to see the completion of the academy. She passed away last month.

Spectators applauded and encouraged Mejia during his emotional speech. He’d pause, try to regroup and push ahead.

“I was here five years ago when I joined the Orioles,” Elias said, “and my first week on the job somebody handed me the blueprint for Brian’s land, and it’s just unbelievable for me to see us actually be here right now and looking at it.

“This isn’t just about excelling in baseball. This is going to change the lives of many young men here in this country.”

The academy is near the Guardians’ facility and other teams, which is beneficial for scheduling games. It’s about 30 minutes from Las Américas International Airport, the time depending on the number of automobile and scooter drivers passing on the double yellow lines and shoulders of the road, and features the Orioles bird logo on multiple buildings and a tall sign that reads “See You In Baltimore.”

The Orioles, U.S. and Dominican flags fly side by side near an observation deck that overlooks all three fields.

“I think that this academy and the Orioles presence in the Dominican Republic is a good statement that it is impossible to excel in the major leagues without an excellent program in this country,” Elias said.

Other Orioles representatives included manager Brandon Hyde, closer Félix Bautista, assistant general manager Eve Rosenbaum, vice president of international scouting and operations Koby Perez, vice president of player development and domestic scouting Matt Blood, director of player development Anthony Villa, director of minor league operations Kent Qualls, coordinator of minor league operations Ramón Alarcón, executive vice president and chief operating officer Greg Bader, executive vice president of public affairs Kerry Watson and senior vice president of community development and communications Jennifer Grondahl.

Also attending was renowned Dominican Republic architect José Mella, who has designed around half of the country’s current academies.

Hyde presented an Orioles jersey to Dominican Republic president Luis Abinader.

“It’s an incredibly impressive facility,” Hyde said. “State-of-the-art fields, state-of-the-art weight room, clubhouse. I just think it’s so well done and it means a ton for the organization because this is part of the lifeblood of our team and lifeblood of our organization is signing players and giving them a great facility to train in. And this is the step one for a lot of our young players that we signed that are going to be Baltimore Orioles, and to have them be in this sort of facility is incredible.

“Everything is done extremely well, just from the fields to the artificial surface for the agility field, to what the clubhouse and the classrooms look like. Just a really, really well designed facility, and looking forward to our young players using it.

“I didn’t really know what to expect. I’ve been to a couple of facilities down here before. Every one is a little bit different, but this is like modern and this is a really, really, new-age type of facility.”

People who were present for the groundbreaking ceremony in October 2021 seemed in awe of the transformation from 22.5 acres of dirt and trees. Nothing there at the time to suggest that a spectacular academy would bloom.

“I feel super excited about this grand opening,” Perez said. “I think it’s started 2024 off on the right foot. Now we have this amazing facility that you guys are able to witness and we’re just going to be able to improve our player development and scouting by having it.

"It’s super emotional. When we first came in, Mike Elias and I toured a bunch of woods and just a field. We thought it was a good location. Not far from the airport, close to the other facilities, and we were able to execute. And now that it’s done, it’s really a dream come true and super beneficial to the Orioles, the players, the country of the Dominican Republic. In this project, there really are no losers. Everybody wins on this.”

Opponents are taking the loss. They no longer field an advantage over the Orioles in the international bidding.

“I’m flattered by all the compliments we’ve been getting from the other clubs,” Perez said. “It’s like, ‘OK, now it’s 30 teams,’ and we feel like with the building of this academy, it makes us that much stronger.

“There’s times when, all things being equal, the kid will choose the better academy. I think we won’t lose players over that now.”

The Orioles are thrilled that they can offer more than just baseball, with classroom instruction and nutritional meals important features.

“We always learn about players not getting any education,” Perez said. “As you know, these kids sign before they graduate high school, so we’re doing the best we can to try to graduate them from high school. We’re showing them other trades other than baseball, because as you know, making it to the major leagues is very difficult. And not only making it, but maintaining it is even more difficult, so we want to make sure these kids have the best chance to be upstanding citizens of this country and the United States.

“It’s exciting for us to be able to offer them opportunities, find out their interests and be able to help them be able to live out their dreams, assuming they don’t play in the majors.”

Perez said the Orioles will conduct a small camp next week with players from their latest international signing class at the academy, which also will include some coaches from the farm system.

“Introducing them to the Oriole Way with player development,” Perez said.

“We’re up and running Monday. We’re good, we’re happy.”

Former players Ubaldo Jiménez, Melvin Mora, Nelson Cruz, Hanser Alberto, Daniel Cabrera, Radhames Liz and Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero were introduced today as part of the Orioles family.  

“For them to do that, go out of their way to spend an afternoon here to show support for the organization, it does mean a lot,” Hyde said.

Jiménez, who threw his final pitch as an Oriole in 2017, wore his old cap to the ceremony.

“This facility is beautiful,” he said. “It’s way different than the complex that I was able to experience when I was with the Orioles, and that’s great because they don’t have any excuse why not to have great players from Latin countries. They have the facility, they have good player development and they have everything. So hopefully everything’s going to work out for them and they’re going to have a good team for many years to come.”

“That’s going to help them a lot,” said Mora, who still lives in Fallston and has his academy in the Dominican. “I know for a long time when I was playing for the Orioles, I would think, ‘When are the Orioles going to bring their complex to Latin America?' And this is great for this country, and this is great for Latin America, and this is great for the team, because they’re going to have more time to see what they have in their farm system. And everything’s going to come from here, you know?

“When the people, they come from the Dominican Republic to the United States, they get prepared pretty good in English. Better communication, very good communication. Not like when we played. It was more difficult to communicate with people. Now they have this facility. It’s amazing.”

Bautista also was impressed with the academy and what it means to the future of the organization.

“It’s spectacular,” he said via translator Brandon Quinones. “It’s very nice the way everything came out. And I’m also really excited to be here. The fact that they did this, it’s a big accomplishment and it’s way grander than the one we had before. It’s definitely really nice.

“I look around and I think to myself, ‘Man, it’s a big difference from where I stayed when I was with the Orioles in their academy before.' So it really is impressive.”

One of the mound areas is dedicated to Luis Andrés Ortiz Soriano, an Orioles minor leaguer who died in March 2023 at age 20 after a battle with cancer. Ortiz, who signed with the organization in July 2019, last played in the Florida Complex League in 2021.

Ortiz’s family was introduced to the crowd, which offered a prolonged ovation.

* Bautista was rehabbing his surgically repaired right elbow in Sarasota before returning to the Dominican last month.

“Honestly, I feel really good right now,” he said. “Just going through the natural stages of my rehab process right now, and thankfully just doing everything I have to to get back to 100 percent soon.”

Bautista isn’t expected to pitch in 2024. Opening Day 2025 is more realistic, but he won’t concede anything.

“That is my ultimate goal, but I don’t want to set a limit on myself, either,” he said. “If I’m ready by the end of the season, then I want to be ready for that, as well. Ultimately, that’s not my decision, but my goal is just to be ready as soon as possible.”

Said Hyde: “Great to see Félix here, looks amazing.”

What about pitching in 2024?

“I don’t ever want to say ‘no’ to Félix,” Hyde said. “I love the guy, and it’s going to be challenging without him this year. But so great to see him with a big smile on his face and he feels good. He won’t be on the mound for us this year, but we’re going to be talking all the time.”

* The Orioles announced the signing yesterday of 19 more international players - 13 from the Dominican and six from Venezuela.

“Koby and Mike have done an amazing job,” Hyde said. “When they came and started this five or six years ago, they stayed true. They were going to rebuild our international system and our farm system, a lot of things. But international was part of that, and they’ve done a great job of signing really quality players. And now, giving them a facility to train in."

* Hyde doesn’t think his roster is set as spring training approaches, knowing that Elias is trying to add more players.

“I’m sure there will be some names popping in at some point,” he said, “but I can’t give you any information today if there’s anything happening.”

The big acquisition so far is closer Craig Kimbel, who signed on the final day of the Winter Meetings.

“Craig’s had an incredible career so far,” Hyde said. “I think he’s still got a lot left in the tank. We saw him last year in Philadelphia, he looked like Craig Kimbrel. He’s one of the elite closers of our generation and of all-time with saves. Really excited to add him.”

* The Orioles announced that tickets for all 2024 regular season home games will go on sale to the general public Jan. 25 at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased at Orioles.com/Tickets.

The promotional schedule features 24 giveaway items and is highlighted by five bobbleheads, multiple T-shirt nights, a City Connect Reversible Floppy Hat, a City Connect Hawaiian Shirt, an Orioles Football Jersey and an Orioles Soccer Jersey.

The bobblehead giveaways will feature Hyde on April 27, Mr. Splash on May 10, Anthony Santander on June 1, Adley Rutschman on July 28 and Gunnar Henderson on Aug. 23.

The City Connect Hawaiian Shirt giveaway is June 29, the City Connect Reversible Floppy Hat is July 26 and the Orioles Soccer Jersey is Aug. 24. And new this year, fans can get an Orioles 70^th Anniversary Replica Jersey on May 17 to celebrate the team’s 70 years in Baltimore, an Orioles LGBTQ+ Pride Night Jersey on June 27 and an Orioles Football Jersey on Sept. 7.

Bark at Oriole Park returns on April 16 and Sept. 18.

All Birdland Members will have online access to single game tickets beginning Jan. 17 at 10 a.m.

The Bird Bath Splash Zone will return to Section 86 with tickets available to purchase beginning on Jan. 23.

For more information or to become a Birdland Member, visit Orioles.com/Membership. For the complete 2024 schedule, visit Orioles.com/Schedule. A complete list of current promotions and special events can be found online at Orioles.com/Promotions.