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More Info On 16 Year Old DR Kid The Mets Signed
Topic Started: Jul 16 2005, 03:48 AM (78 Views)
Gategem
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Martinez will have to avoid the high bonuses curse that affects Dominicans.

MIAMI (ESPNdeportes).- Only in rare occasions have the Dominican players that received high signing bonuses reached stardom.

In fact, of the Quisqueyan ballplayers that received more than one million dollars in signing bonuses, only Wily Mo Pena ($2.45MM) is in the major leagues.

This is only one of the challenges that Fernando Martinez, who became a pro after receiving $1.4 million from the New York Mets this week, has in front of him.

“I’m not afraid of challenges,” Martinez told ESPNdeportes from his home in the Dominican Republic.

“I’m mentally prepared to overcome all the obstacles and make my dream of reaching the Major Leagues come true,” added Martinez, who will turn 17 in October.

Martinez is a left-handed power hitter who possesses all five tools necessary to be considered a potential star in the major leagues.

“Fernando is amazing. He has power, he makes contact, he has a great arm, speed and he can field. He possesses the five tools to become a great star,” said Ezequiel Sepulveda, a scout from the Dodgers who followed Martinez for months.

A scout from the Boston Red Sox said that Martinez looks like a young Ted Williams.

“Martinez can play center or right because he has a great arm,” said Rafael Bournigal, the Mets’ director of international scouting.

“Moreover, Fernandez has great posture for being so young,” added Bournigal.

Unlike the majority of his compatriots, Martinez could start his career in A-ball, and not in the Dominican Summer League.

The most optimistic projections say he could reach the big leagues after three years in the minor leagues.

In addition to justifying the signing bonus, Martinez should validate his label as a “can’t miss” and overcome the “high signing bonuses curse,” something that other Quisqueyans couldn’t do.

Pitcher Ricardo Arámboles (New York Yankees) and shortstop Josephang Benhardt (Toronto), who at the beginning of the 1990s became the first two Dominicans whose signing bonuses surpassed the million dollar mark, didn’t go further than AA.

Shortstop Julio Guerrero (Boston) and pitcher Jesús Cordero (Los Angeles Dodgers), who signed for $700,000 and $600,000, respectively, didn’t even reach double A.

Some others that have signed recently, like third baseman ::Andy Marte (Atlanta), shortstop Ervin Joel Guzmán, second baseman Willy Aybar (Los Angeles), shortstop Jerry Gil and right-handed pitcher Ramón Peña (formerly known as Adriano Rosario) from Arizona, are looking to establish themselves [as major leaguers] in the next couple of years.

Unlike the American ballplayers who are signed, most of which come from the June draft, the young men who play baseball in the Dominican Republic are not prepared for the tremendous impact that comes from going from extreme poverty to the fame and wealth of the major leagues.

The Dominican Republic, which has around 10 million habitants in 48,000 square kilometers, is one of the poorest countries in the American continent.

The minimum wage in the island is only $120 a month. The majority of ballplayers come from the poorest layer of society.

The great desire to escape poverty and help their families was the principal catalyst in the careers of players like Sammy Sosa, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, Alfonso Soriano and Miguel Tejada.

None of these players was a “bonus baby,” the name that North Americans give to the players who receive high signing bonuses.

“I have a hunger to play at the highest levels. My responsibility is with my family, my little town and with my country,” said Martinez.

“My dream is to be able to play on the same team as Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran and I’m going to try to reach the big leagues as soon as possible so I can join them,” said Martinez.

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Giambi_MVP_25
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Holy sh*t, I'm older than this guy.
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Gategem
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Drew
Jul 16 2005, 09:31 AM
Holy sh*t, I'm older than this guy.

And what the f*ck have you done in your life except give your parents aggravation and impregnate three dogs (gender unknown).
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VICTORious
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i think international players should be eligable to get drafted
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TheOne
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Sounds like this kid has all the goods, the mets might have something with him!!!
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Mattingly23
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Gategem
Jul 16 2005, 10:44 AM
Drew
Jul 16 2005, 09:31 AM
Holy sh*t, I'm older than this guy.

And what the f*ck have you done in your life except give your parents aggravation and impregnate three dogs (gender unknown).

Why rip on Drew? He's the logical, good guy out of the youngings.
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MastaR316
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Mr. Sunshine
Jul 16 2005, 11:03 AM
i think international players should be eligable to get drafted

It's something that is being argued. All the big market teams keep getting them, so it might happen later on.
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Gategem
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Mattingly23
Jul 16 2005, 03:22 PM
Gategem
Jul 16 2005, 10:44 AM
Drew
Jul 16 2005, 09:31 AM
Holy sh*t, I'm older than this guy.

And what the f*ck have you done in your life except give your parents aggravation and impregnate three dogs (gender unknown).

Why rip on Drew? He's the logical, good guy out of the youngings.

Drew knows it was not done with any malice. It was like this kid is younger then you and signs for all this money and what the hell have you done for your parents. Lighten up Matts.
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FloydNbunch
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This kid sounds great, hopefully he'll be able to fly through the minors
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Gategem
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FloydNbunch
Jul 16 2005, 05:29 PM
This kid sounds great, hopefully he'll be able to fly through the minors

Hey he's your age. He just brought home over a million for his family. What have you done. If I don't rip on you Drew will think I am singling him out. Of course it might have something to do with him being a Yankee/Nationals fan. :laugh2:
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FloydNbunch
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Gategem
Jul 16 2005, 08:59 PM
FloydNbunch
Jul 16 2005, 05:29 PM
This kid sounds great, hopefully he'll be able to fly through the minors

Hey he's your age. He just brought home over a million for his family. What have you done. If I don't rip on you Drew will think I am singling him out. Of course it might have something to do with him being a Yankee/Nationals fan. :laugh2:

Yup, I am such a failure :-|
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Gategem
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FloydNbunch
Jul 16 2005, 09:58 PM
Gategem
Jul 16 2005, 08:59 PM
FloydNbunch
Jul 16 2005, 05:29 PM
This kid sounds great, hopefully he'll be able to fly through the minors

Hey he's your age. He just brought home over a million for his family. What have you done. If I don't rip on you Drew will think I am singling him out. Of course it might have something to do with him being a Yankee/Nationals fan. :laugh2:

Yup, I am such a failure :-|

It's got to be tough being over the hill before you even start to climb it. :wall:
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FloydNbunch
Does WrightNbunch sound good?
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Gategem
Jul 16 2005, 11:47 PM
FloydNbunch
Jul 16 2005, 09:58 PM
Gategem
Jul 16 2005, 08:59 PM
FloydNbunch
Jul 16 2005, 05:29 PM
This kid sounds great, hopefully he'll be able to fly through the minors

Hey he's your age. He just brought home over a million for his family. What have you done. If I don't rip on you Drew will think I am singling him out. Of course it might have something to do with him being a Yankee/Nationals fan. :laugh2:

Yup, I am such a failure :-|

It's got to be tough being over the hill before you even start to climb it. :wall:

:laugh:
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