Phillies Latino legends Juan Samuel, Bobby Abreu and Carlos Ruiz are now fixtures at the team’s baseball academy in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic. Three individual playing fields were dedicated in their names during a May 29 ceremony at the academy. The trio represents three different countries, Dominican Republic (Samuel), Venezuela (Abreu) and Panama (Ruiz).

In addition, the seven pitching mounds were dedicated to Roly deArmas, a long-time player development manager, coach and instructor.

• Phillies alumni

Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, FL, has four fields named after Phillies Hall of Fame legends, Richie Ashburn, Robin Roberts, Steve Carlton and Mike Schmidt. More recently a field in South Philadelphia was dedicated in memory of Dick Allen.

The Academy, co-shared with the Minnesota Twins, was opened in 2017. It provides housing and educational, cultural and baseball training for numerous local and international prospective players. Johan Rojas first played there in 2018.

Juan Samuel
Signed by the Phillies as a 19-year-old, April 29, 1980. His pro debut came that summer with the Bend (OR) Phillies in the Northwest League. Three years later Samuel, a second baseman, made his major league debut.

As a rookie in 1984 he set a club record with 72 stolen bases which still stands. He also set Phillies rookie records with 701 at bats and 19 triples.

In his seven Phillies seasons (1983-89) he was a two-time All-Star (1984-87), a Silver Slugger winner (1987) and the first player in franchise history to compile double figures in doubles, triples, home runs and stolen bases in four consecutive seasons (1984-87). On the club’s all-time lists, Samuel ranks ninth in triples (71) and eighth in stolen bases (249). His 729 games at second base are fifth most for the Phils. He spent seven seasons as a Phillies major league coach (2011-17).

He was inducted into the Toyota Phillies Wall of Fame in 2008. Now 63 years of age, Samuel serves as a Special Assistant to Player Development & International Scouting.

Bobby Abreu
A left-handed hitting outfielder, Bobby was acquired from Tampa Bay, November 18, 1997, for shortstop Kevin Stocker. He was #53 for nine Phillies seasons (1998-2006). A two-time All-Star, he also won a Silver Slugger (2004) and Gold Glove (2005). He was inducted into the Toyota Phillies Wall of Fame (2019).

Bobby batted .303 with 348 doubles, 195 home runs, 814 RBI, 947 walks, 254 stolen bases and a .416 on-base percentage in 1,353 Phillies games. He hit over .300 and scored 100 or more runs six times, walked over 100 times in seven different seasons and drove in 100 runs or more five times. Twice he had seasons of 30 or more runs and stolen bases, a Phillies record.

Among Phillies all-time career leaders: Tied for first in OBP (.416); second, OPS (.928); third, walks (947); fourth, doubles (348); fifth, slugging percentage (.513); sixth, batting average (.303); seventh, stolen bases (254); eighth, extra-base hit (585); ninth, RBI (814), and tenth, total bases (2,491). Among outfielders, fifth in games played (1,331).

Bobby is 50 years of age.

Carlos Ruiz
Signed by the Phillies on December 4, 1998, out of David, Panama. Began pro career in 1999 in the Dominican Summer League where first learned the catcher position. Spent six years in the minors, including his first season in the states with the Gulf Coast League Phillies at Carpenter Field in 2000. Two position players on that team made it to the majors, 3B Travis Chapman and Ruiz.

Made major league debut on May 6, 2006, in 4-1 win over the Giants at Citizens Bank Park. Hitless in 3 at-bats. Spent 11 years (2006-16) with the Phillies, a rock during the Phillies run of five consecutive National League East Division titles, including the 2008 World Series championship. Hit .353 in 11 games over two World Series (2008-09), the highest average in Phillies WS history.

An NL All-Star in 2012, “Chooch”, now 45, ranks fourth all-time in franchise history with 1,029 games caught. He is the only catcher in NL history to have caught four no-hitters and one of two catchers to do so in MLB history.

At some point, Ruiz will be a member of the Toyota Phillies Wall of Fame.

Roly deArmas
A Cuban-American player, coach and manager in the Phillies organization for over 40 years. First five seasons (1973-77) as a catcher in the minors. deArmas also spent time as interim bullpen coach during the 2008 World Series championship season.

As a Phillies minor league manager for 31 years, he was a skipper for over 2,400 games, mostly with rookie league level teams at Carpenter Complex. His 2010 club won the Gulf League Coast League championship.

Roly, now 72, has also been a coach for Team USA 10 different times and has participated in that accord in the Pan Am and Olympic Games as well as the World Baseball Confederation.