Manager Fernando Tatis invites 40 players to Dominican Republic camp as nation eyes Olympic baseball qualifier in June

Manager Fernando Tatis invites 40 players to Dominican Republic camp as nation eyes Olympic baseball qualifier in June
07/04/2021
The former star has invited 40 players -- including those with extensive MLB experience -- to national team camp.

Dominican Republic National Baseball Team manager Fernando Tatis as the squad's manager for the upcoming Olympic qualifier has invited 40 players to training camp, which begins, Thursday, 8 April.

Tatis and world No.10 Dominican Republic are looking to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics through the upcoming WBSC Baseball Americas Qualifier this June in Florida.

Players battling for a spot on the Dominican National Team include those with extensive Major League Baseball (MLB), such as infielders Juan Francisco, Gustavo Núñez, Emilio Bonifacio, Alen Hanson and outfielders Melky Cabrera and Carlos Peguero. Pitchers Lisalverto Bonilla, Jairo Asencio, Jhan Mariñez, Edgar García, Darío Álvarez have also MLB experience.

Dominican Republic National Team invitees:

PITCHERS (23) Jairo Asencio, Edward Reyes, Jesús Liranzo, Edgar García, Darío Álvarez, Jhan Maríñez, Mauricio Cabrera, Merandy González, Olbis Parra, Leuris Gómez, Ramón García, Román Méndez, Luis Santos, Marcos Molina, Lisalverto Bonilla, Franco Terrero, Carlos Ramírez, Alfredo Simón, Daury Torrez, Michael Ynoa, Marlon Arias, Alexis Candelario, Pedro Vázquez.
CATCHERS (3) Jhon Núñez, Eric González, Eduardo de Óleo
INFIELDERS (8) Juan Francisco, Luis Valenzuela, Diego Goris, Luis González, Gustavo Núñez, Miguel Gómez, Alen Hanson, Carlos Franco
OUTFIELDERS (6) Emilio Bonifacio, Jimmy Paredes, Melky Cabrera, Anderson Féliz, Yefri Pérez, Yeison Asencio

The players will work out twice a week at Quisqueya Juan Marichal Stadium in Santo Domingo.

At the 2019 WBSC Premier12, which served as an Olympic qualifier, Dominican Republic finished 7th out of 12 teams.

Tatis' Bio

The 46-year old Tatis had a Major League Baseball (MLB) playing career spanned from 1997 to 2010. He became the only player to hit two grand slams in the same inning on 23 April 1999 while playing for the St Louis Cardinals. On the same day, he set the record of runs batted in (8) in an inning.

He represented the Dominican Republic internationally at the World Baseball Classic 2009.

Tatis managed in the Boston Red Sox organization in the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

His older son, superstar Fernando Tatis Junior, plays for the San Diego Padres, and prior the 2021 season, he signed a 14-year contract worth US$ 340 million.

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