DBacks prospect Kristian Robinson on Arizona Fall League experience
Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Kristian Robinson talked about his experience playing in the 2024 Fall League season.
The Arizona Diamondbacks unveiled their new Dominican Republic academy at a ceremony on Monday, a facility they believe is now the best in the country.
The academy, the first of its kind to have lights installed for night games, took more than seven years to complete, a process that began in 2017 during general manager Mike Hazen’s first spring with the team and was delayed multiple years due to the pandemic.
The club initially was planning to spend roughly $10 million on it. The final cost exceeded $17 million, Diamondbacks President Derrick Hall said.
“I am so proud of the end result,” Hall said. “We now have, in my opinion, the finest academy in the country. And as proud as we are of the architecture, beauty, first-ever stadium lights, and state-of-the-art baseball facilities, we point to our education center as a true game-changer. We will develop these young men both on and off the field.”
Located in Boca Chica, the academy has three fields and separate buildings for clubhouses, dormitories, dining area, classrooms and administration. Diamondbacks assistant GM Amiel Sawdaye said it evokes the feel of a college campus.
“So it gives you this feel of you have to go from one building to the next, like from class-to-class type of thing, which is really cool,” Sawdaye said.
From its spacious, state-of-the-art weight room to the vaulted ceilings in the clubhouses, the academy, which has been up and running for the past few weeks, has received rave reviews.
“They did a great job,” said Miguel Montero, the former Diamondbacks catcher who now works as a special assistant in player development. “I don’t know if these guys are going to want to go to (Low-A) Visalia. It’s like Disneyland. It’s way nicer than Salt River Fields.”
Monday’s ceremony included a pair of surprise dedications. The education center was named after Ken Kendrick, the team’s majority owner, while Junior Noboa Field honors the team’s longtime vice president of Latin operations.
With teams limited in the amount of money they can spend on the international market, the Diamondbacks are hoping the quality of their academy might help attract talent.
“It can’t hurt,” Sawdaye. “I think ultimately money is probably going to be the deciding factor for things. But I think when money is close, it should be a recruitment tool for us.”
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Publish date : 2024-11-18 10:09:00
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