Acta, Cano teach kids the game at clinic
Indians manager, Yanks second baseman participate with Dominican former players
All they needed to do was spend some time with a small group of people that have made their dreams a reality.
A group of former Major Leaguers and coaches from the Dominican Republic joined Manny Acta, manager of the Cleveland Indians, and Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano at a baseball clinic in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, on Dec. 11. They gave advice to hundreds of enthusiastic young Dominicans, who dream about playing in the Major Leagues some day.
"It's their dream, as well as ours," said Apolinar Batista, president of the Little League Coaches Association from Consuelo in San Pedro de Macoris, the Dominican town from where Acta and many others had success in the sport of baseball.
"This is great," said Acta about the event, which also included former players Alfredo Griffin, Juan Ramon Bernhardt, Hector Eduardo, Alberto Louis and Uadi Jabalera. The clinic was held in a baseball complex built by Acta known as Terreno de Cocolos.
"Thanks to the MLB Alumni and Players Association for supporting us," said Acta. "We want to give the youth, the young kids, the opportunities that we never had, through sports and education."
"This is spectacular," said Dan Foster, CEO of Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association. "This is great for the young kids, the players and the community."
"We are pleased to help establish a relationship between the players and the community, teaching them baseball," added Foster.
"We want to cooperate with anything having to do with this type of project. I'll be in the training facilities offering this type of cooperation to the players who want to do something similar in their communities."
After the clinics, the young kids from five of the six leagues who play in Conseulo were invited for a lunch in a nearby club, where Acta spent time with them, talking, taking pictures and signing baseballs.
"I'm giving back those things that God generously has given me," Acta said.
Acta received a plaque by Batista, who represented the Association of Coaches. The plaque was in honor of Acta's work with the community.
"He is doing something great for the kids," said Batista. "His dream is to be able to build something here, in Terrenos de Cocolos, a center for kids who play baseball."
Acta is in charge of the ImpACTA Kids Foundation, who helped organize the baseball clinic, with the support of MLB alumni and the Major League Baseball Players Association.
"We want to build a library here, with a virtual classroom where the kids can have Internet access," said Acta. "I am from here, from Consuelo. I want to give them the opportunity that I never had. We can't leave everything in the hands of the government. Everyone should contribute as much as they can."