BOCA CHICA, Dominican Republic -- Growing up, Walkyria Torres dreamed of pursuing a career in the arts. She danced ballet and aspired to do so professionally. But at age 13, she started her first job as a ballet teacher. From there -- and through a journey of unpredictable twists and turns -- teaching jumped to the forefront and Torres’ passion for education has turned into a 28-year career.
Luckily for the Mariners, her career includes bringing that passion to life as the education coordinator for the organization’s Dominican Republic Academy, preparing young players both academically and socially for life in the big leagues.
Torres creates, develops and supervises an education curriculum that supports all international players at the academy and features English, computer, writing and high school equivalency courses. She also plans off-site community service and life skills programs, essentially preparing the players for the transition to a new culture in the United States.
This International Education Program, which features four aspects of holistic development (personal competencies, professional, academic and social), culminates each year with a graduation. The Mariners have had six graduations with 51 players receiving their diplomas over the last seven years.
Torres also travels to the Mariners Minor League affiliate locations to ensure a successful transition for players in real-time. This March, she’s spending 10 days at the Peoria Sports Complex to do so. There, she teams up with Renee Gallegos, who leads a similar program for players in the Arizona Complex League.
In addition to supporting the players, Torres works side-by-side with coaches, staff and parents, and provides support to other areas of the organization such as mental health and athletic training. Her days are full of making sure that teachers are set up for success, and that she is ready to teach her own classes, all while looking for innovative ideas for improvement.
“We are always striving for new ways to better our education curriculum,” she said. “There are days when we have life skills workshops, MLB trainings, a community service activity or a special guest. All programs are run in the afternoon after the players are done with baseball.”
Torres has been with the Mariners Dominican Republic Academy for five years. But it was never the role she dreamed up for herself all those years ago as a young ballet dancer.
After graduating from high school, Torres’ parents sent her to the United States for a year to learn English as an exchange student. While studying, she was placed as a third-grade teacher’s assistant. Here she was again, in an unexpected teaching role.
Then later back home in the Dominican and after giving birth to her son, Torres was offered a three-month appointment to serve as a substitute English teacher at the same school she attended as a child. From there, her career path led her to roles as an elementary English teacher, high school English teacher, art teacher, lead teacher and then education coordinator.
“When I realized that teaching adolescents was where my heart was, I decided to try teaching at the university level as a second option, but it wasn’t until I became a Fulbright student that these doors opened,” she said.
Torres received a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship in 2010, which gives participants the opportunity to do intensive research and study in their field. It was an experience she notes was rewarding -- both personally and professionally.
“It provided me with a rich connection with other cultures, religions and colleagues from around the world," she said. "It helped me define my path as a leader in education in addition to learning about the best teaching practices internationally.”
Fast forward to five years ago, when a colleague of Torres’ told her that the Mariners were looking for an English teacher in the Dominican and wanted to know if Torres could recommend someone. But when she met with the Mariners hiring manager, Torres was the one who was offered the job. Torres declined the offer, but said she would still help to find a good candidate for the role. The hiring manager persisted and invited Torres to the academy for a visit.
“Besides being a normal baseball fan, I didn’t know this side of baseball existed,” she said. “What was supposed to be an informal visit on a holiday turned out to be a job offer as an education advisor. That first year, I became a student of an unknown world that has inspired me ever since in so many ways that I had never imagined.”
The rest is history as they say -- and the impact that Torres is making at the academy is felt throughout the organization.
“Walkyria takes complete ownership and responsibility for the development of our players,” said assistant general manager Andy McKay. “And it’s not just one aspect of their life, it’s everything. You can give her 10 different titles and they would all be accurate. English teacher, life coach, therapist, mentor. She does it all, but she does it with a true combination of firmness and discipline, and a special way of connecting with these players. Without question, her work has been as impactful on our entire organization as any uniformed coach that we have.”
And as we celebrate Women’s History Month in March, the fact that she is working in the male-dominated field of baseball is not lost on Torres.
“Being a woman working in baseball is a challenge and a huge responsibility,” she said. “A challenge because we are still living in a male-dominated world, especially in Latin America, which makes this very competitive. A responsibility because by taking on a leadership role, you become an example of what we are able to do and accomplish. This is an opportunity that could lead to opening doors for other women."
Torres is undoubtedly a wonderful role model for women in baseball. And it’s her passion for education that remains at the core of what inspires her most.
“I love the idea of being able to teach my students to become independent lifelong learners and the chance to impact someone else’s life. To help them be the best version of themselves,” she said.