The Atlanta Braves Canary Islands baseball academy on Tenerife has yielded its first product. The team has signed shortstop Alejandro Sánchez. He is the first Spanish-born player signed by the Braves, and he is also the first player signed from the teams new baseball academy on the island of Tenerife.
This is not really a major international signing, but its good to see the team getting an early return on their investment in Tenerife. Europe might be the next great prospect haven, and the Braves have a strong foot in the door. Sanchez is the second European prospect the Braves have signed this year, the other being back in April.
0 recs | 14 comments
Just curious,...
any word on the Dutchman’s progress? The original plan is said to have been to get him in rookie ball this year, but I haven’t seen him in any box score or anything.
Mr. Sanchez - July 31, 2009
He’s playing/played (not sure when the season ends) in the Australian league and was pretty bad statistically. The Australian league is where most of the Euro/Asian prospects seem to be playing to start out.
17843 - July 31, 2009
So why don’t we open an academy in, oh, say…Europe?
TradeAndruw - July 31, 2009
Last time I checked a map, Spain was part of Europe.
cbwilk - July 31, 2009
You know what I meant, the Canary Islands isn’t exactly the heart of Europe. We should go to India and try to convert some cricketers.
TradeAndruw - July 31, 2009
Yeah, I kno what you mean. Germany seems like it would be a good central location.
bbxxj - July 31, 2009 via mobile
i live in Prague...
and it is too rainy and snowy for any real Academy in Central Europe unless they do it indoors.
besides, too many toolsy players playing football (soccer to us Americans) that they don’t have the time to develop the skills necessary to be pro baseball players.
apoxonbothyourhouses - July 31, 2009
How do I know what you mean? If that’s what you meant, why not just say it?
cbwilk - July 31, 2009
You don’t think perhaps the decision to put the academy there was based on business considerations not made public? Like cheaper land, government concessions, better weather, etc.
17843 - July 31, 2009
They've already tried that, actually...
The Pirates signed a couple of Indian pitchers who won a reality show over there. It was on Real Sports.
MichaelProcton - July 31, 2009
Yeah I think since they speak Spanish there in Spainland they must be part of Mexico or somethin.
bbxxj - July 31, 2009 via mobile
Then they would have to speak Mexican…duhhhh!!
bwellnjonesco - July 31, 2009
actually...
it’s called Castilian.
they also speak Catalan and Basque in Spain.
apoxonbothyourhouses - July 31, 2009
Hmmm I thought
Tenerife is an Island off the coast of Africa….Baseball in Europe, the hotbed of Footzball…I feel better saying this than Soccer?
When they have the Olympic tourney the Dutch do good because they can draw on their Teritories in the Carib..
.If you were to put teams in Europe the best weather, where you could play at least a half season would be Southern Spain…and some of the Med’s Islands (to include Greece) but the only thing bad about that would be is these places are loaded down with tourists (half naked) May- September, that would not be interested in watching a game they don’t understand and could not fight about (I know Footzball stereotype). What made/makes baseball so popular is that it is a game anyone can play almost at any age and any level….but one that is not often played in the Rain.
Cricket is popular in England because it was made for drinking…I could explain further if asked but it is good that we have expanded our recruitment of players!
bravestatoo - August 1, 2009
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