Skip to content

Report: Trainers might boycott showcase over international draft proposal

REUTERS / Eduardo Munoz

Major League Baseball's reported proposal of an international draft isn't going over well in Latin America.

Dominican Republic trainers are reportedly planning to boycott MLB's annual national showcase scheduled for next week, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America. Should the boycott go through, trainers would not bring their top talent to the event, which attracts scouts from all 30 teams.

"No one will take their players to the event next week," an unnamed but well-known Dominican trainer told Badler. "There is a total boycott of all MLB events."

Venezuelan trainers have discussed a similar boycott for MLB's showcase in that country, set for Nov. 16-17 in Panama, reports Badler. The showcase was moved out of Venezuela due to safety concerns.

A report from ESPN's Buster Olney earlier this week suggested that MLB is pushing for a 10-round international draft beginning in 2018, as part of its ongoing collective bargaining agreement talks with the Players' Association.

The showcases give the brightest unsigned talent in Latin America chances to be seen by scouts before they're eligible to be signed. The next international signing period opens on July 2, 2017.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox