Bucs' Dominican complex opens path to opportunities bigger than baseball

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- As Pirates general manager Ben Cherington stepped up to the microphone, he had one request of the crowd in the batting cages at the organization’s Dominican Academy.

“Por favor, patience.”

Before a group of 12 graduates on Saturday, Cherington congratulated them on behalf of the organization and gave them advice for the road ahead in Spanish and English, allowing many of the families in attendance to understand his message on one of the most important days in their loved ones’ lives.

“To build a championship team in Pittsburgh, we must accept that the work will not be easy, and it’s not supposed to be. You have accepted that in your work and inspired us,” Cherington said. “I am grateful to be here to share this day with you. I hope to see you continue your journeys in baseball and in life.”

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Many of the students could understand his words in both capacities thanks to completing a rigorous coursework at the academy, which includes a lot of practice in the English language. Dominican catcher July Vittini, who was born in San Pedro de Macoris -- home of the Pirates’ Dominican complex before the construction of the new El Toro facility in 2009 -- showcased his mastery of English with a heartfelt speech to his classmates.

“We are winners because we are here,” Vittini said. “Our journey has been a long and difficult one, but we made it. And these are the fruits of effort. Therefore, let us remember the willpower and persistence that has brought us here.

“In short, carry out your activities with joy, plan a prosperous future with love and dedication [and] with the fruits of a new life of happiness and achievements, leave and make a difference in the lives of other people.”

Part of the reason their command of English is so strong is because of the way the Pirates teach them confidence not just on the field, but in a foreign language. It’s how Pittsburgh has differentiated their formal education from other programs, through a more holistic approach that ties together book smarts with cultural awareness and courage. That doesn’t mean simply feeling brave enough to say the words even if they come out wrong, but also questioning things and defending themselves with those words.

“It’s when they really ask questions and they say, ‘Hey, I don’t understand. I’m sorry. Excuse me.’ Raise their hand. That we have seen happen now more than ever before, because it’s a process,” said Pirates education coordinator Mayu Fielding.

It was not only players who walked the stage with this new knowledge either. The loudest applause was saved for a chef at the academy. Fielding said at first, the class wasn’t too sure how things would go with an academy worker partaking in classes, but it was so successful that two housekeepers and a maintenance worker have begun to take classes.

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It’s part of the reason the Pirates have the staff that they do, one which the organization takes great pride in given how they help players feel comfortable from the moment they arrive.

“It really starts here and it [cascades] throughout our system,” Fielding said. “Players are incredibly happy to come here. Parents are happy their kids are here because they know what they’re going to be doing and who they’re going to be with.”

The ceremony was filled with unique flourishes. Each teacher received a bouquet of yellow flowers from the students of the class. Yellow and white flowers adorned the tables around the batting cage.

The backdrop featured a unique logo the Pirates’ educational team designed. A player swings at a baseball while a catcher crouches, ready to grab the ball, but at home plate is a desk where a student is diligently working. It’s one of a few different logos the international team boasts to give a fresh flavor to its programs.

The harsh reality of baseball is that there are hundreds of prospects in an organization, and only a small percentage of them will reach the Major League club. The Pirates are not oblivious to this reality. It’s why chairman Bob Nutting said he has tried to keep the organizational focus on building up the person as much as building up the player, recognizing what such an opportunity can inspire on a larger scale.

“For the 80% or 90% of the kids who are not actually going to be able to play professional baseball in the states, those are the kids who really get impacted by the education program,” Nutting said. “Those are the kids ... who are earning a degree that really would not have been available to them any other way.

“To be able to go back after a year or two years here at the academy, back into their homes with Spanish literacy, English language skills, a high school diploma and a pretty good signing bonus, that’s a life-changing, transformational opportunity for those people.”