Our Impact

Welcome To Empower Baseball

A New Story for Dominican Families

In the Dominican Republic, baseball isn’t just a sport — it’s a dream
But for thousands of children, that dream comes at a cost

Most drop out of school by their early teens to chase a professional contract

They train for years — often exploited by the buscone system — with little education or vocational preparation

Even those who “make it” rarely have the foundation to build a life beyond the game

At Empower Baseball, we’re rewriting that story

Without education, they are left without options, continuing the cycle of poverty.

Who takes care of the 98% when their baseball dreams end and they are kicked back into society and they have no diploma, no life skills, and no options?

We do.

This is Empower Baseball

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The Education Crisis We’re Solving

Education in the Dominican Republic is broken — not because students lack ability, but because they lack opportunity

Fewer than 50% of students graduate high school, and only 21% ever finish college
Most never make it that far

When poverty meets broken systems, baseball feels like the only desperate path forward

That’s why Empower Baseball exists:
to build a new model of education through the game kids already love — one that teaches English, technology, and character alongside hitting and fielding.

Two Baseball Dreams. Two Very Different Roads.

Same dream. Unequal chances.

In the United States, baseball and education grow together. In the Dominican Republic, thousands of kids are forced to choose between a glove and a classroom. Empower Baseball exists to change that — to make baseball a bridge, not a trap.

Dominican Path

Age 5–7

Street Baseball / Vitilla

Plays barefoot in the street with bottle caps and sticks. No organized leagues or school teams — just raw talent and love for the game.

Age 8–10

Buscón Recruitment Begins

Independent “buscones” recruit boys, promising MLB futures. Families sign informal contracts giving them up to 50% of any signing bonus. Some take risky loans to pay for training.

Age 11–13

Drops Out to Train Full-Time

Leaves school and often moves away from home to live with other players under a buscón’s control — unregulated, no schooling, poor living conditions.

Age 14–16

Full-Time Training Under Buscones

Trains 6–8 hours a day, six days a week. No education, little nutrition, no health care. Performance drugs are common. Everything is aimed at MLB’s July 2 Signing Day.

Age 16

Signing Day (MLB International Free Agency)

Eligible to sign with MLB academies. Only about 2% sign; many lose half their bonus to the buscón. The rest are left behind — no diploma, no safety net.

Result: Most return home uneducated and unemployed. The system profits from their hope and leaves them with nothing.

U.S. Path

Age 5–7

T-Ball

Starts in school or community league. Coaches are parents or teachers. Focus is on fun and fundamentals.

Age 8–10

Little League

Plays organized ball with uniforms, safety, and school support. Teamwork and discipline are key.

Age 11–13

Pony League / Travel Ball

Weekend tournaments, advanced coaching, supportive families. Education remains central.

Age 14–18

High School Baseball

Plays for school. Balanced schedule, strength training, tutoring, and college preparation.

Age 18–22

College Baseball / NCAA

Earns a degree or scholarship while playing at a high level. Learns leadership, time management, and purpose.

Age 22+

MLB Draft / Professional Career

If drafted, enters MLB with education and maturity — ready for baseball or life beyond it.

Result: Even if the baseball dream ends, education does not. They graduate, grow, and move forward.

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Empower Baseball keeps Dominican kids in school with free, education-first baseball — so no one has to choose between a glove and a classroom.

The Dominican Reality After Age 16

Only a small fraction of Dominican players ever sign with an MLB academy — and even fewer build a career. Most are left with neither a diploma nor a safety net.

~40,000 boys turn 16 each year eligible to sign with MLB teams — only 550–600 actually do.

(AP News, 2023)

2% of academy players make a living from baseball; the rest return home without education or opportunity.

(Global Citizen, 2022)

Many drop out of school before age 14 to train full-time, spending years in informal systems with no academic path.

(SABR Journal, 2021)

Even those who sign face release rates above 80% before age 21, often returning home without diplomas or job skills.

(MLB.com, 2023)

Sources: AP News 2023, Global Citizen 2022, SABR Journal 2021, MLB.com 2023

Our Impact

In just a few years, Empower Baseball has built one of the Dominican Republic’s only education-first baseball programs — completely free for families.

Established 2020

Empower Baseball is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit EIN 85-0947825.

2021 Purchased Roger Rocha's School of Baseball

This allowed us to have access to 2 baseball fields and all facilities as well as equipment to start

3 Full-Time Jobs Created

dedicated local coaches and mentors

Baseball Equpiment & Clothing Donated

Enough baseball equipment and uniforms donated to supports 50 kids and 3 teams with surplus as equipment wears down with use and to help other programs across the province of Barahona

46 committed kids

currently enrolled and have a waiting list. They have signed a commitment to attend school and make that their first priority.

High School Baseball Practices 5 Days a week

Kids stay safe, busy, and motivated. Time slots at the fields are assigned to us by the city of Barahona and we are fortunate enough to be able to have 5 days a week to practice with 3 age groups

School Supplies, School Uniforms, Laptops and Smartphones

Donated by supporters of Empower

Clean Drinking Water

Able to provide purified water at all games and practices for the children and for their families at home

Gym Access

We have partnered with a local gym to give access to 14 and older boys for strength training and instructing

Baseball Strength Training and Development

Kids have access to individual strength trainers at the gym to create and monitor player development

4 Dominican RBI Players

Our players were chosen to participate in Nike’s RBIDominicana tournament teams during the summer

Scholarships

Working with Sponsors to fund scholarships to Dominican Universities for our players

No Buscone Promise

Empower Baseball provides free player development and educational mentorship to help Dominican youth finish their education AND pursue their Major League Baseball dreams for those that attend school. Empower Baseball does not participate in the Buscone system in the DR. Players in our program DO NOT sign contracts with Empower Baseball giving us a percentage of their signing bonus. Players and their family are not obligated to pay Empower Baseball any money for any educational or professional success their children have.

Our Players and Testimonials

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Your support gives Dominican kids more than baseball — it gives them a future. Together, we can take them from the field to the future.

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