Many Dominicans see baseball as a way to escape extreme poverty. But the baseball pipeline from the Dominican Republic to the major leagues has long been shrouded in tales of corruption, kickbacks, side deals with smugglers and falsification of documents.
SAN PEDRO DE MACORÍS, Dominican Republic — At 17, Alvin Guzmán's day consists of hitting the gym, taking some English classes and then"going into the fire," as he describes with a smile his intensive training at the Arizona Diamondbacks camp in this town known for its baseball talent.
Baseball brings some $75 million to $80 million annually into the country, which is why so many Dominican boys see baseball as a way to escape extreme poverty and why it's good business for independent trainers like Alfredo Arias, who runs the Arias & Goodman Academy, a privately owned camp.“For a Dominican, it is such a great feeling to just dream of the fact that you're going to be in the major leagues," Arias said.
The younger Guzmán chokes up recalling the one family member who didn't live to see this step of the journey — his mother died when he was 13."All of this I do for her," he said."Every time I hit, I thank God ... and dedicate it to her."But the baseball pipeline from the Dominican Republic to the major leagues has long been shrouded in tales of corruption, kickbacks, side deals with smugglers and falsification of documents. The U.S.
According to his father, Melanio Perez Ponciano, the trainer injected his son with dangerous doses of steroids given to horses. Ponciano ended up having half his right leg amputated. “I think that people are aware that steroids are bad," Arias said."However, they do take chances. ... You see players at the major league level being tested positive."
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