Why do latin ball players play winter baseball in Mexico, Dominican Republic, Panama, etc...?

Question

but American baseball players don't ?? Why don't American born ball players looking to get some more experience, gain more fans, make some extra $$ and work on their game in the offseason...why don't they go as well. It would also be good to learn the culture of their fellow latin teammates, get to know them better, and take a few pointers from former big leaguers that coach teams over there.

Answer 1

Some Americans do play ball in those countries, but it's mostly cultural. Latin Americans want to go home to play or play in their native language.

Answer 2

Well youve asked the right question. I'm currently a "gringo" pitching in the Mexican League (LMB). I've pitched winterball in Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Mexico, so I'm an expert. Look, Latin teams (Owners, players, umpires, fans) don't really want American players, they only employ them if they need them like a "closer", or "starter, 1st basemen or whatever they can't fill with the native players. It's not racism or anything stupid like that, in fact, I'm quite welcomed everywhere I play, it's just that Dominicans want an all Dominican team. Mexicans want an all mexican team, and so on. Here comes the but, but...they need the best team possible because it's all about winning so they subcontract foreigners(imports we're called) to fill needs. Now, there are limits. Each team can only have 4 imports in summer, 6 in winter. Remember, an import is someone from a different country, any country other than the one the team is in. For example, in Puerto Rico you can hire 6 imports, 2 from the U.S., 2 from Mexico, 2 from the Dominican or any country in the world. So, there really are not that many opportunities to get a winterball job for American players, you have to be awfully good and MLB organizations don't always allow their players to go play winterball for fear of injuries or burnout. Believe me, Ive played 13 years of pro ball and every single American player I ever knew wanted to play winterball and just couldn't get the job. The question I have is how come there is no winter ball in the states?

Answer 3

There are in basic terms 30 gamers in MLB from the Dominican Republic or approximately 13.6 %. now that's not a bad ratio yet Venezuela has 18 or approximately 8.a million %. It replaced into the 1st united states that replaced into taped with the aid of MLB and it rather is purely approximately been a breeding floor for gamers. places like Canada or Australia have there very own national activities so much less young ones play baseball in those international places.

Answer 4

Those areas have long been known for winter ball because of the climate. Actually, many American born players have ventured down there over the years to play winter ball and work on their hitting stroke.