Felix Feliz drives home importance of education for baseball hopefuls

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – More than 1,000 youth baseball players gathered on a sunny morning in Las Caobas, Santo Domingo Oeste. The children were invited for a baseball clinic. Former San Diego Padres international scouting director Felix Feliz made sure to also drive home the importance of education.

The Apolinar Paulino Chavez softball stadium, known as “El Torontico,” was filled with children who hope to one day follow their country’s heroes to Major League Baseball. 

Hundreds of the attendees were in the bleachers well before the clinic was scheduled to start at 9 a.m. The stands appeared color coordinated as players sat alongside teammates in their team’s jerseys. 

The clinic drew players between the ages of 9 and 17 years old from various youth leagues throughout Santo Domingo, the hometown of the legendary David Ortiz and Albert Pujols. 

Big league instructors

Drill stations were led by local coaches as well as former major leaguers Miguel Batista, Alberto Castillo, Esteban German and Eddy Garabito.

The former players represented living proof of what is possible. At each station, kids crowded around the former big leaguers with wide eyes and in awe. Throughout the 2-hour clinic, the kids were receptive to every word from the coaches. Parents proudly watched from a distance. 

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Fisher College coach Scott Dulin and outfielder Angel Feliz also attended. They led outfield drills. Henry Gonzalez Gomez, MLB’s director of international baseball operations, delivered opening remarks. He praised the coaches for the often overlooked work that they do. 

“Coaches are the quiet heroes,” Gonzalez Gomez said. “They work in the background and out of the spotlight. But they are the foundation for every superstar who makes it to the big leagues. Over 950 players from the Dominican Republic have made it to Major League Baseball. None of that happens without you.”

The event was organized by Felix’s Fundación Jahdiel, whose mission is to develop baseball and education programs for youth throughout the Dominican Republic. Feliz, 57, played professionally before spending four decades as a scout for the Dodgers, Padres, Pirates, Rockies and Angels. He has helped more than 40 players sign MLB contracts. 

Saturday’s clinic was personal for Feliz, who spent 13 years as the Padres’ director of international scouting and 1 ½ years in the same position with the Angels.

Life after baseball

“Despite my successful playing and scouting career, the biggest blessing I’ve received is the work I do through this foundation,” Feliz said. “We’ve impacted more than 100,000 kids as it relates to education and sports. And today we brought together over 1,000 kids from all over Santo Domingo Oeste.”

Feliz’s mission goes beyond baseball.

“You can be an ex-athlete,” Feliz said, “but you can’t be an ex-doctor or ex-engineer. That’s why we preach the importance of education.”

The message landed. 

The attendees learned about the game of baseball and the game of life. Many also walked away with autographs and greater hope for their futures.