Junior Reporter Post: Minor Leaguers Making Transition to a New Culture

Matthew Luca is a senior in high school, studying to work in the sports industry. The 2016 season was his second as the Blue Rocks' Junior Reporter. He covered the team from the press box, interviewed players, wrote stories and learned what goes into documenting a professional baseball team in the media.

Wilmington, DE - Professional baseball signs many players every year out of Latin America. These hispanic players face huge changes when they come to the United States to play baseball. The Blue Rocks had many such players on their roster in 2016, and they all had to adjust to the language and culture here.

The traditional route taken by these players is that they are signed as free agents. The Rocks' former second baseman, Humberto Arteaga, took this route. The Carolina League All-Star was signed out of Venezuela by the Royals in 2010.

"It was pretty hard," Arteaga said. "I came here when I was 16 years old, so I had really far to go. I learned English, that was my first thing and it was hard because our community is a lot different than (this one) but after (a couple) years I was fine with it."

Fellow 2016 Blue Rock, Alfredo Escalera, took a less traveled route. The outfielder moved to Florida from Puerto Rico to play at a baseball academy. The move payed off as he was drafted in the eighth round of the 2012 Draft.

"At first it was definitely hard," Escalera explained. "I was 13 years old, but I kind of knew where I was going to play because I had been going back and forth since I was eight to the academy where I played. But I mean it was hard at first, (because) friends stay back, and there's a different language. (In) Puerto Rico everything's in Spanish, but after my first year I got used to it real quick, so it was fun."

The Royals try very hard to help these players make the change of playing baseball in the U.S.  Abraham Nunez, the Blue Rocks' hitting coach each of the last two seasons, has seen a great deal of change in the way that Latin players transition to playing in this country.

"Big time (change,)" the former major league infielder explained. "In our organization, in Kansas City, we have a system in place for guys. They've got English classes, we've got a culture in place for them. We try to introduce them right away and it just doesn't start when they get here, it starts down in the Dominican Republic academy. Guys get English classes over there to try and transition them so when they get here the process is a little easier."

These things are very helpful to somebody like Arteaga, who didn't know any English when he came to the United States. The Royals provided an English teacher in Arizona who taught him over his first two years.

"I've got to say the organization (helped me most,)" Arteaga said. "They have been treating me pretty good and I am glad that I signed with the Royals."

Escalera had to work through the change without the Royals as he moved to Florida in high school before the team drafted him. Playing at the academy, however, allowed him to meet and work with somebody who helps him this to this day.

"I had a coach, he's still there, Anchor Kesslers," Escalera explained. "He played with the Royals too and he played in Venezuela winter ball and I still go back every offseason to hit with him. He's that guy who knows my swing in and out, so he was the biggest guy."

Despite the challenges of playing in a new country both Arteaga and Escalera made the change because it gave them the opportunity to play professional baseball at the highest level.

"My favorite thing playing here is that I got the opportunity to work," Arteaga said. "But at the same time I'm just playing baseball, I mean I can do what I love."