D-backs officially open Dominican Academy with memorable celebration
The Arizona Diamondbacks hosted the official grand opening of their Dominican Academy at the Las Américas Complex in the Dominican Republic. With a perfect backdrop of blue skies and sunshine, the celebration was attended by over 200 guests, including senior leadership, current players, alumni, Dominican dignitaries, sports authorities from various entities, representatives of the construction team and more. The ceremony featured D-backs’ President, CEO & General Partner Derrick Hall & Vice President, Latin Operations Junior Noboa as well as the Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader and Minister of Sports Kelvin Cruz in a ceremony emceed by National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum President Josh Rawitch.
Hall unveiled two surprises to celebrate legacy contributions to the team’s ongoing efforts in the Dominican Republic with the dedication of the Ken Kendrick Education Center and Junior Noboa Field.
The Ken Kendrick Education Center honors the team’s Managing General Partner’s pioneering education movement. The three-classroom center will support the team’s first-of-its-kind education program, which launched in January 2014 and had its first graduating class in July 2014. The program provides Dominican-based players with a free education while playing baseball, in support of his vision for all players to have the tools to be successful in life, whether that be on or off the field.
Junior Noboa Field honors the dedication of the team’s longtime Vice President, Latin Operations, who was the organization’s first international hire in August 1995 and has played a vital role in the development of the Latin players who started their baseball journey at the team’s academy.
Hall also announced another groundbreaking feature as the D-backs are the first academy with a field with lights, which will allow night workouts and games certain to elevate the experience for the team’s prospects.
Today’s grand opening is the culmination of a project that began with a groundbreaking in August 2018 in the team’s return to the site of their first academy from 1996-2003. The multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art complex provides the nearly 100 prospects, coaches and visiting staff with high-quality, first-class amenities, including new dormitories, a lounge and a barbershop for the players, spacious rooms for the coaches, three full fields, covered batting cages, an agility field, a modernized training room and weight room, a trio of classrooms and a dining room.
Notable D-backs attendees included:
- Leadership: Derrick Hall, Mike Hazen, Amiel Sawdaye, Junior Noboa & César Gerónimo Jr.
- Players: Geraldo Perdomo, Justin Martinez & Jordan Lawlar.
- Alumni: Miguel Montero, José Valverde, Miguel Batista, Danny Bautista, Emilio Bonifacio, Esmerling Vasquez, Jordan Norberto, Alfredo Marte, Socrates Brito & Luis Frías.