The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas has been blessed to have had six players who played in the Major League of Baseball. There were quite a number of them who made it to the minor leagues.

After the retirement of Antoan Richardson last year, there are no more players in the Majors, but he has helped to pave the way for another batch of players who are hoping to follow in the footsteps of the other major leaguers, including Andre Rodgers, Ed Armbrister, Will Culmer, Wenty Ford and Tony Curry.

Four of those players were on hand as they watched Courtney Smith, the latest Bahamian to ink his name to a professional contract with the Texas Rangers last week at the Courtyard Marriott.

Dominique Collie, Jasrado Chisholm, Lucius Fox and Larry Alcine all remembered what it was like going through the process.

Now they can all reflect on what their transition has been like so far in the minor leagues.

Dominique Collie,

Arizona Diamondbacks

After spending two months in instrumental baseball in the Dominican Republic, Collie is preparing for spring training in March in Scottsdale, Arizona where he will find out exactly where he will play this season.

"I'm living a dream. I wanted this all my life so to be living it and even exceeding what I'm doing is even better," Collie said. "I just thank the Lord for the opportunity to play with my brothers like Jazz and Christian Robinson. That makes it even more exciting to know that I have players who I grew up with playing along side me."

Last year, Collie made his pro debut in the Dominican Republic where he felt he played exceptionally well, especially on defence without committing an error.

"I had the least amount of at-bats, but I led the team in walks and I had a .250 batting average with my on base percentage as the highest on the team. I didn't have that much stolen bases, but I had a lot of hits, a lot of line drives," the centre fielder said.

"The organisation was very impressed with me and now that I am out of the DR (Dominican Republic) and in the States, I can only see myself going up higher on the ladder."

He admitted that the conditions in the Dominican Republic was a struggle, but he was able to grind it out.

"No one there speaks English, the food is different and we had cold showers," he pointed out. "But I kind of liked it because it made you want to play better so that you can get out there as quickly as possible. It's not the place that you want to be, so I'm glad that I got out of there.

"When I left, they told me they want to see me put on some weight and get stronger and faster and I've been doing that. They got to see a glimpse of my game in October and they said they can't wait to see me in spring training."

Collie said he knows all of the professional players now because they all grew up together playing junior league baseball and to see the amount of talent out there is amazing. He said that it will only keep growing, having watched Smith join the ranks as the newest member of their fraternity.

"Me and Courtney went to a couple of tryouts in 2015. We went to showcase for three teams and he put in the hard work," Collie said. "Even when all of us were signing and he didn't, he never gave up. He continued to put in the hard work and so I'm so proud of him today. He kept on training and training. It's about time, He finally got to sign his contract."

And at just 18 years of age, Collie said he's still trying to get used to the idea that he's now a professional baseball player in the outfield.

Jasrado Chisholm,

Arizona Diamondbacks

After enjoying three seasons in the minors, Chisholm said he's just trying to get out of Advance A and into Double A so that he can continue to move through the ranks.

"The last two seasons have been great and the Diamondbacks have been treating me the golden child, so I've really been enjoying every moment of it," he said. "It's been a good experience. It's been a lot of fun. I couldn't ask for anything more."

Chisholm said the good thing is that he's not the only Bahamian player trying to make it out of the minors, so it's good to have the compatriots even though they may be playing in different leagues and levels with different clubs.

"Hanging with these guys has been a blessing. I've been with them since I was a baby," he said. "So seeing everybody striving for success has been great."

Last year, Chisholm only got to play in 23 games, but he made the best out of them.

"I hit above the league average, but I only had one home run in a pitching league," said Chisholm, who played in Kane County Cougars as a shortstop.

"I played awesome defence for the time I was there, so it was an awesome season."

When he goes to sprint training in Arizona in March, Chisholm said he's already projected to have a great season, so he's looking forward to exceeding all expectations wherever he ends up.

"I want to make this my best year ever because I want them to know that I am here to stay and I will become a major leaguer," he said.

"I will prove to the Bahamian people that I will become a major leaguer."

As for the signing of Smith, Chisholm said it's so good when others are following them.

"It makes the Bahamian family stronger and showing everybody that the Bahamas is a place that we don't just run like Jamaica," he said. "We play basketball like Buddy Hield, we have track and field and now baseball. We do it all, so it's just great to see another Bahamian coming up the ranks."

Chisholm, who celebrated his 20th birthday last week Thursday, said it was an honour for him to come home and participate in the Home Run Derby so that he could display some of his skills to the public.

He said he was also glad that some of the younger guys come to him and ask him for his advice on how to make it.

Lucius Fox Jr,

Tampa Bay Rays

Although it's been an up and down season so far, Fox Jr said he's making the most out of it. "I had some times when I was failing a lot and I had some times when I was succeeding a lot, but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world," he stated.

"It's been a dream come true from when I was a young boy growing. Now I am having so much fun playing the game that I love and just being able to call it a job is a blessing."

During the offseason, Fox Jr said he's spent a lot of time trying to improve his craft.

"I've been hitting and lifting weights every day trying to fine tune my swing, making sure everything is right before I head to sprint training on March 1st," said Fox Jr as he prepares to go to Port Charlotte, Florida for the Rays' organisation. "Hopefully one day I can achieve my goal of becoming a major leaguer.

"I am enjoying the process so far and I just want to thank God for the experience. I just want to improve in every aspect. I've been working out a lot on my speed and my strength because I want to get bigger and faster and stronger so I can hit the ball harder and increase my power numbers and my stolen bases."

If he can perfect hitting the ball from both sides of the plate and got on base a little more, Fox Jr said he's looking for his stolen bases percentage to increase and that will help him to surpass the .270 that he had with about 17 doubles, five triples and three home runs and 30 stolen bases,

"I make to make it big this year," he projected.

Larry Alcine Jr,

Pittsburgh Pirates

It's been a grind for Alcine Jr in the Dominican Republic, but he's taking it in strides.

"I just want to thank God for getting there," Alcine Jr said. "I just go out there every day just trying to get better. Baseball is not an easy sport. It's all about giving your best and focusing on getting better every day and staying focusing because there's plenty of distractions out there. I have to keep my body right and try to stay away from injuries."

Last year, Alcine Jr played in the Dominican Republic. "It was a learning experience, just trying to put everything in place," he said. "That's what baseball is all about, learning every day and the next day putting what you learn into practice. So it's good to get the experience."

Alcine, 19, will now head to Bradenton, Florida for sprint training in March. "I expect to go there and have an amazing spring training," he said. "I had an amazing off season working out with the boys, working hard in the gym, so I just hop to have an amazing year."

As he prepares to move to the next level, Alcine Jr said he was just excited to see Smith make the leap to the pro ranks. "When I signed, Courtney was there for me, so I want to be here for him," he said. "All this time he was working so hard. He came so close, but he never got there and he never gave up. To see him here signing, I think I'm more excited for him. To watch someone grow in two years, it's a great feeling.

"It's just exciting to see another Bahamian come into the professional ranks. As we continue to grow, it's good to see someone so close make it."

Alcine said it reminded him of playing in the Home Run Derby.

"I enjoyed it. I enjoyed every part of it," Alcine said. "I can't wait for next year. I already put the guys on notice that unless I move, the trophy is going home with me in Carmichael Road."

In the meantime, the players all say they just want to see where their path will take them when they go to spring training next month.