The Truth About Dominican Baseball That Most People Don’t See Or Hear About
In the Dominican Republic, it is very common for many boys as young as 10-12 to drop out of school because their families believe that baseball is their only realistic path out of poverty.
The heartbreaking truth is that almost none will ever sign a professional contract with the MLB.
This will leave them without a diploma and few real opportunities to make a living after baseball ends. Empower Baseball exists to change that story.
We are a youth organization that keeps kids in school, surrounds them with mentors and tutors, and provides a safe, ethical baseball training that prepares them for life – not just baseball.
The Reality for Youth in the Dominican Republic
Growing up in the Dominican Republic, most kids dream of baseball. But long before they ever reach a professional field, they face real obstacles in school and at home.
Only about one-third of Dominican adults have completed upper-secondary education. Many students leave school early because of economic pressure or lack of opportunity.
Of the young people who start university, only around one in four go on to earn a degree. Without education or training, options after baseball are very limited.
Around one in five Dominicans lives at or below the national poverty line, with even higher rates in regions like Barahona. For many families, school costs and transportation are real barriers.
These figures are based on the latest available national data from sources such as the World Bank and UNESCO. Numbers are rounded for clarity. Our players grow up inside this reality — and Empower Baseball exists to change what’s possible for them through education and ethical player development.
The Problem
When Baseball Replaces School
Dominican families often believe that baseball is their only chance out of poverty, so education takes a back seat or is abandoned completely and baseball becomes a full time job. They sign their kids up with unregulated private baseball academies called busones and begin a baseball career full time. This includes moving out of their home and away from their family.
Almost none of these boys will ever a sign a professional MLB contract. When baseball ends, they leave the buscone system without a diploma, no job skills, and no clear path forward to make a living. They typically stay unemployed or work low paying jobs like police or military jobs, farm work, construction, moto concho drivers, and watchimen or security. It’s a cycle that traps thousands of families. Empower Baseball exists to change that story
10-12
Baseball is the national pasttime and kids are being recruited younger and younger to enter the baseball system.
98%
Over 98% won’t go pro. While we all love a great underdog story, the harsh reality is that only a tiny fraction of these kids will sign a professional MLB contract.
No Plan B
When Baseball ends there is no backup plan. Left without an education, many young men return home with no clear way to support themselves or their family.
A Day in the Empower Baseball Program
We don’t pull kids out of school to play baseball. We build a simple rhythm: school first, academic support in the afternoon, and then safe, structured baseball training.
Daily Schedule
Players attend regular public school in the morning, then join us in the afternoon for education and baseball.
- Morning: Local school (required to be in the program).
- Afternoon: Study, tutoring, and homework support.
- Late afternoon: On-field training and team practice.
Curriculum: Education + Baseball
Our time together is split between the classroom and the field so boys grow as students and as players.
- Education: Reading, homework help, test prep, and life skills.
- Baseball: Fundamentals, position work, conditioning, and teamwork.
- Balance: Roughly half of program time is academic, half is on the field.
Who Teaches & Where We Train
The program is led by Dominican staff who know the community, the schools, and the baseball culture.
- Coaches & Mentors: Local Dominican coaches and leaders who model character and faith.
- Academic Support: Staff and partners who coordinate with schools and help with studies.
- Facilities: Simple classroom space, a local field in Barahona, clean water, and shared equipment.
What The Dugout Makes Possible
The Dugout is our monthly giving team. Your consistent support keeps kids in school, supports local coaches, and provides the daily resources they need to grow through baseball.
Helps cover transportation so a player can get to school and practice safely each week.
Provides school supplies, clean water, and essential training gear for a student-athlete.
Supports Dominican coaches and mentors who invest in boys’ character, faith, and future every day.
Strengthens the entire program — academics, baseball development, facilities, and future scholarships.
Even if they never go pro, your support helps boys stay in school, graduate, and build a life they’re proud of.
Where Your Gift Goes
Every dollar helps keep kids in school while they train safely and ethically in Barahona, Dominican Republic.
programs for
student-athletes
*Example allocation based on our current budget. Exact figures are updated in our annual report.
Join The Dugout
Join the monthly giving community serving 46 Dominican youth every month
The Dugout is more than monthly giving—it’s a team. 100% of your monthly gift goes directly to the kids, coaches, and programs that keeps Dominican youth in school while they grow through baseball.
Meet The Dugout community changing lives
From teachers in Colorado to coaches in Texas, families across America have joined The Dugout to support kids in Barahona. Each monthly donor becomes part of something bigger—a community that believes every child deserves both education and dreams. Here are some of the incredible people making this mission possible.
