At a recent camp put on by the Blue Jays Baseball Academy in August at Rogers Centre, one of the groups of young players had set up a game in right field with home plate about 75 feet from the wall. The pitcher couldn’t seem to keep the ball in the yard, though.

Three hitters from the group — this one mostly ages nine to 12 — cleared the wall and rounded the makeshift bases to be mobbed by their teammates. On the mound, watching his ERA climb with every celebration, was Hall of Fame second baseman and Blue Jays legend Roberto Alomar, who seemed to be enjoying it just as much as they were.

Alomar’s involvement with Canadian amateur baseball runs deep. Along with serving as commissioner of Tournament 12 each year in Toronto, Alomar works with all ages of youth baseball players across Canada each year in an effort to grow the game and develop their talents. Considered by many to be the greatest Toronto Blue Jays player of all time, Alomar was collecting Gold Glove Awards, All-Star appearances and World Series Championships before any of these kids were born. 

“His involvement is immeasurable,” said Greg Hamilton, the head coach and director of national teams for Baseball Canada. “Obviously, he’s a Hall of Famer, but he’s also a Hall of Fame person. He’s a tremendous individual. He’s very grounded and he cares deeply about the youth that he’s involved with in our country. We’re very fortunate to have him. He’s someone that young players can dream to emulate.”

Alomar’s involvement with youth baseball in Canada began after he retired from the Major Leagues and has grown steadily since. This has also run alongside his work with youth baseball in his home of Puerto Rico, which gives Alomar a far-reaching influence on the game. 

The players aren’t the only ones to benefit from this, either. Alomar takes pride in the work and comes to it from a genuine place, which allows him to connect with 14-to-16 year oldson a real, human level, not as an unapproachable baseball star.

“It’s special when you try to accomplish different things. Not for yourself, but trying to accomplish more things for the young guys,” Alomar said. “You always need support. You need support from the Blue Jays organization, you need support from MLB. You cannot do this yourself, so it’s always a group thing and the Blue Jays are doing a great job.”

Even since T12 debuted back in 2013, the development of young baseball players has changed significantly. The information available to these players is growing by the day, which allows many of them to act as their own coaches as they collect hitting tips or pitch grips from their favourite Major League players. There are also some lessons to be learned along the way in terms of how players process this new information and use it on the field. 

Alomar is still hands-on — it’s not unusual to see him out in the field working with infielders or giving a quick lesson by the batting cage — but his main focus with the players he mentors is the mental side of the game. This, he believes, is what separates players at the higher levels.

“When I talk to the young guys, this game is more mental than physical,” Alomar said. “You still have to have talent, but the talent can take you to certain limits. Your desire, your love for the game, your mental toughness and the work ethic will take you a little bit further in your goals.”

Tournament 12 takes place over just five days this September, but it’s the culmination of a year’s worth of work for scouts and organizers and even more for the young players who qualify as one of the best 150 young players in Canada. 

Alomar is excited by the opportunities that are being created for these young Canadians, which he compares again to his home of Puerto Rico, where it can be more challenging for teenage prospects to earn scholarship offers or professional contracts. 

The growth of baseball in Canada, including the success of T12 alumni, leaves Alomar optimistic that there’s much more to come as this collaborative effort moves forward.

“The talent is superior,” Alomar said. “There’s more talent every year. Now, with the new talent we have in T.J. [Burton] and Mark Shapiro, who’s been really supportive of the program, I think it’s been amazing. A lot of scouts helped to pick the kids. The talent is there and the opportunities are there, so I see a lot of great things happening.”