The Miami Marlins today celebrated the grand opening of the club’s new Academy in the Dominican Republic, with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new site. The special day commemorated the Marlins’ continuous commitment to invest in player development on and off the field with a ceremony to mark the completion of the state-of-the-art facility. The Marlins can proudly boast one of, if not the, best MLB facilities in the Dominican Republic.
In attendance at the grand opening were Dominican Republic Vice Minister for Sports Development Santos Kennedy Vargas, Marlins Chairman and Principal Owner Bruce Sherman and his wife Cynthia, Marlins Chief Operating Officer Caroline O’Connor and Marlins All-Star and Dominican pitcher Sandy Alcantara. The group was able to tour the new academy prior to the press conference, getting an up-close look at the first-class facility.
The Miami Marlins Dominican Republic Player Development Complex provides Marlins players with everything they need to continue their professional development on the field and personal growth in the classroom. The 35-plus acre plot of land features three Major League-size playing fields, along with an agility field, four covered batting cage tunnels, and a covered set of six pitching mounds, along with a two-story athletic and administration building and a separate state-of-the-art residential complex. The two-story residential complex includes:
- Dorm rooms for more than 100 players
- Communal courtyard
- Two recreational spaces for players to relax and socialize
- Educational center with four classrooms
- Computer learning center with nearly 50 computers/workstations
- The new facility further entrenches the Marlins’ commitment to educational excellence for all members of the organization.
The athletic and administration building features a weight room with upper cardio deck, training room and Hydrotherapy room, and a large video room to go along with the clubhouse for players, coaches and staff.
The entire combined square footage of the two buildings is more than double the size of the old Marlins complex. The three baseball fields, main clubhouse, and batting cages put Miami’s international player development complex among the largest in baseball.
