Pelotero+y+Azucar

= Pelotero (2012) = This compelling documentary, narrated by John Leguizamo and executive produced by Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine, is a gritty and never before seen look inside the world of Major League Baseball (MLB) training camps in the Dominican Republic. Miguel Angel and Jean Carlos are two of the top prospects and they are both about to turn 16, which means they can be signed to an MLB farm team and ultimately move up to the majors. (from Rotten Tomatoes website)

Miguel Angel Sano
Signed for $3.15 million in Oct. 2009 with Minnesota Twins Articles
 * Born**: May 11, 1993
 * [|MinnPost - article on signing with Twins in 2009]
 * [|Sano injured, Tommy John surgery 2014]

Teams Played For

 * ~ Year ||~ Age ||~ Team ||~ League ||~ Level ||~ Affiliation ||~  ||
 * [|2010] || 17 || [|DSL Twins] || [|Dominican Summer League] || FRk || MIN ||  || 2010-05-29 || 2010-07-03 ||
 * [|2010] || 17 || [|GCL Twins] || [|Gulf Coast League] || Rk || MIN ||  || 2010-07-05 || 2010-08-27 ||
 * [|2011] || 18 || [|Elizabethton Twins] || [|Appalachian League] || Rk || MIN ||  || 2011-06-21 || 2011-08-30 ||
 * [|2012] || 19 || [|Beloit Snappers] || [|Midwest League] || A || MIN ||  || 2012-04-05 || 2012-09-03 ||
 * [|2013] || 20 || [|Fort Myers Miracle] || [|Florida State League] || A+ || MIN ||  || 2013-04-04 || 2013-06-09 ||
 * [|2013] || 20 || [|New Britain Rock Cats] || [|Eastern League] || AA || MIN ||  || 2013-06-12 || 2013-09-02 ||

Jean Carlos Batista
Signed for $300,000 in 2010 with Houston Astros Articles:
 * Born**: November 15, 1991
 * [|Astros - Minor League releases]

Teams Played For

 * ~ Year ||~ Age ||~ Tm ||~ Lg ||~ Lev ||~ Aff ||~  ||~   ||~   ||
 * [|2011] || 19 || [|GCL Astros] || [|Gulf Coast League] || Rk || HOU ||  || 2011-06-20 || 2011-08-11 ||
 * [|2011] || 19 || [|Greeneville Astros] || [|Appalachian League] || Rk || HOU ||  || 2011-08-13 || 2011-08-30 ||
 * [|2012] || 20 || [|Greeneville Astros] || [|Appalachian League] || Rk || HOU ||  || 2012-06-19 || 2012-08-14 ||
 * [|2012] || 20 || [|Tri-City ValleyCats] || [|New York-Pennsylvania League] || A- || HOU ||  || 2012-08-16 || 2012-09-05 ||
 * [|2013] || 21 || [|Lancaster JetHawks] || [|California League] || A+ || HOU ||  || 2013-05-18 || 2013-06-02 ||
 * [|2013] || 21 || [|GCL Astros] || [|Gulf Coast League] || Rk || HOU ||  || 2013-07-03 || 2013-08-24 ||
 * [|2014] || 22 || [|Douglas Diablos] || [|Pecos League] || Ind ||  ||   || 2014-05-14 || 2014-07-06 ||

=GlobalPost series: "Dominican dreams: El barrio to the big leagues"= Part 1 "The Dominican Republic's baseball magic," here Part 2 "The next sure thing," here Part 3 "An open place," here Part 4

= Sugar/Azucar (2008) = Filmmakers Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden (Half Nelson) weave this introspective sports drama concerning a talented Dominican baseball player who longs to break into the American big league and earn the money needed to support his impoverished family. Miguel Santos is a talented pitcher who might just have what it takes to earn a prized spot on a Major League Baseball team, but before that happens he'll have to prove his worth in the minor leagues. Advancing into the United States' minor league system at the tender age of 19, Miguel is warmly welcomed into the small-town Iowa home of his host family, but can't help but struggle with language and cultural barriers despite the kindness of strangers. (from Rotten Tomatoes website)



 = Dominican Republic Facts =  **Population:** 8,862,000**Capital:** Santo Domingo; 1,865,000**Area:** 48,442 square kilometers (18,704 square miles)**Language:** Spanish**Religion:** Roman Catholic**Currency:** Dominican peso**Life Expectancy:** 69**GDP per Capita:** U.S. $6,300**Literacy Percent:** 85 === Dominican Republic Facts Flag ===
 * [|Dominican Republic Guide]
 * [|Facts]
 * [|Map]

Map
Occupying the eastern two-thirds of Hispaniola, the Dominican Republic is the second largest country, after Cuba, in the West Indies. This mountainous land includes Pico Duarte—the highest point in the Caribbean. Colonized in 1493 by Spaniards, it offered the first chartered university, hospital, cathedral, and monastery in the Americas. Santo Domingo, founded in 1496, is the oldest European settlement in the Western Hemisphere. The nation became independent in 1844, but endured political instability and repressive governments. Today it is a democracy, economically dependent on agriculture and tourism.

**ECONOMY**  —Text From //National Geographic Atlas of the World, Eighth Edition//
 * Industry: Tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles
 * Agriculture: Sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cacao; cattle
 * Exports: Ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee