A trio of young Bahamian took their first steps as professionals toward the major leagues on Monday, signing separate contracts with the Boston Red Sox organization. All three hail from the Maximum Development (MaxD) Sports Academy.
Tavano Baker, Edwin Darville and Trent Wilson, all 17, inked their names on the dotted lines inside the boardroom of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) yesterday. Baker primarily mans the outfield and is one of the top international prospects of the Red Sox during this signing period, Darville spent most of his time at shortstop, and Wilson is a pitcher.
All three started playing baseball from as young as seven at the Freedom Farm Baseball League (FFBL) in Yamacraw.
Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis took time to congratulate each of the three young men yesterday.
“Sports is a catalyst for inspiring good feeling and to see Bahamian young men doing well in sports is a blessing,” said the prime minister. “We want to continue to lift up young men. You could become a part of a gang, but become a part of a good gang. A baseball team is a good gang and Freedom Farm is a good gang. I salute those who continue to instill positive values into young men. Despite the circumstances that our young men face, there is a way to find yourselves and a way to contribute to society so that you could touch others. It is always welcoming and heartening to see young men taking purposeful steps in their development, particularly at a time like this when so many of our young men are drifting. We have to continue to provide the opportunity for these young men to do positive things in their lives, so I encourage you to remain focused and remain determined and you will make it.”
All three young men will report to the Red Sox rookie level development program in the Dominican Republic, undergo an instructional camp and then rostered. The Dominican Summer League Red Sox, often called the DSL Red Sox, is a Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). There are two teams — the DSL Red Sox Red and the DSL Red Sox Blue, both playing in the Dominican Summer League at the El Toro Complex in El Toro, Dominican Republic.
