The Dominican Republic placed second in the Olympics Americas Qualifying, and advanced to the Final Qualifying Tournament, which they won, giving them and Bautista a spot in the 2020 Summer Olympics,[141] where they won a bronze medal. These rights give Bautista the ability to veto any trade he would be involved in. [26] Bautista hit his 20th home run as part of a two-home run night against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 22, setting a new career high for a single season in just two months. Odermann, who assisted baseball players from Latin America desiring to play baseball in the US, knew that Chipola College, a junior college in Marianna, Florida, was seeking an everyday player. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. In order to buy his first glove, he had to collect and turn in bottles for money. [91] However, on July 11, it was announced that he would sit out the game due to a shoulder injury. What are the results of the age testing done by the MLB on Miguel Angel? Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Quad Cities River Bandits sent SS Jean Batista on a rehab assignment to GCL Astros. Play Ball Youth Baseball & Softball. [53], Bautista was selected for the 2011 MLB All-Star Game, receiving a record 7,454,753 votes. His 14 home runs in June set a new Blue Jays franchise record for home runs in a month. [16] That same year, he became the starting third baseman for the Pirates. Having worked for a Major League ballclub as one of the front-line employees, I know very well that "MLB" is "the owners", and the owners are all about the money. Team. He later scored on a sacrifice fly. But the Sano familys camera cuts out halfway through, so all thats captured is the audio. Jean Batista assigned to GCL Astros from DSL Astros. Bautista played in 11 games for the Pirates in 2005. Signing a bunch of Batistas at 500k apiece and a replacement level player is MUCH BETTER than giving career mediocrity Feliz $4.5 mil. [131] He batted .244 with two home runs and 6 RBI in 27 games with the Phillies, and posted a .404 OBP and .870 OPS. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. [21] He hit 13 total home runs in 2009 with 40 RBI, a batting average of .235, and 79 hits in 113 games. [16] His .203 batting average was the lowest of all qualified major league batters. Houston Astros signed free agent SS Jean Batista to a minor league contract. The film is directed by Jonathan Paley, Ross Finkel and Trevor Martin, narrated by John Leguizamo, and produced by Bobby Valentine. [17] However, he struggled offensively for most of the year, and after the 2008 trade deadline Bautista lost his starting job to the newly acquired Andy LaRoche. [11], After the 2003 season, the Baltimore Orioles selected Bautista in the Rule 5 draft and carried him on their Opening Day roster. . [64] Bautista also took over the MLB lead in home runs for 2012, hitting his 25th on June 27 against the Boston Red Sox, which broke the Blue Jays club record for home runs in a month, with 13. EXACTLY!! Every winter, Dominican players flock home to play in the Dominican Winter League. Ballplayer Pelotero Poster - P 2012. In the Dominican Republic, baseball is king. Although the slide did not make any contact, Odor pushed Bautista, who shoved back, followed by Odor punching Bautista in the jaw. Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. When the league asks for extensive documentation of his age and lineage (birth records, school reports, bone scans, DNA tests . It will be probably four or five years before he has any real chance of playing for the 'stros, assuming he is everything they project him to be. He was also the first Blue Jay to be voted into the All-Star game as a starter since Carlos Delgado in 2003. He went on to finish the month with 14 home runs, one short of the American League record for June. We dont need a documentary to tell us this. Players not locked up by that date drop significantly in value. ). Do you have a sports website? Bautista with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011, leader or among the top ten in numerous offensive single-season and career categories, Mother and Teacher Pontifical Catholic University, 2014 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby, Dominican Republic national baseball team, List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders, List of Major League Baseball career putouts as a right fielder leaders, List of Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic, List of Toronto Blue Jays home run leaders, Toronto Blue Jays award winners and league leaders, "Trending: Toronto's love affair with Joey Bats more than skin deep", "Jos Bautista Toronto Blue Jays Career Statistics MLB", "Education fund for latin players quietly changes lives", "How Jose Bautista went from baseball vagabond to the game's best slugger", "Jose Bautista giving back to Latin America by giving kids an education", "20th Round of the 2000 MLB June Amateur Draft", "Joe Lemire: How the Blue Jays' Jose Bautista pulled himself to prominence", "Former Hillcat Stuns Majors With 2010 Numbers", "Boston Red Sox at Baltimore Orioles Box Score, April 4, 2004", "Royals acquire INF Bautista from Devil Rays", "The amazing journeys of Chris Davis and Jose Bautista", "Pirates ride hot bats to win over Yanks", "This time, A.J. Why does Jean Carlos feel so much pressure to earn money? [2], Bautista was then traded to the Blue Jays, in August 2008. Compare these costs to the cost of buying a new or used tuxedo. [80] Bautista was named as the American League Captain for the 2014 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby on June 23. ss (29) . [85] He would go on to hit a home run on August 31, extending his home run streak to five games and establishing a new career-high. water it . Why does Jean Carlos turn down the Houston Astros? He took over for reigning National League batting champion Freddy Sanchez, who moved to second base. [59] Baustista also led the majors in slugging percentage (.608), OPS (1.056) and walks (132) and the AL in intentional walks (24). Hes not in the film, and no matter what you think of his on-field abilities, his movie should be allowed to stand on its own merits. Some have used steroids, some have lied about their ages, some have lied about their identities. Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. 1b (29) . In the film, both players (or peloteros, in Spanish) are about to turn 16 -- the age MLB allows them to sign, and the age they command the biggest bonuses. [6][7], The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Bautista in the 20th round (599th overall) of the 2000 Major League Baseball draft. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Its like when you go and harvest the land, one trainer says of the players he has helped broker for Major League Baseball. At the time of his selection, he led all major league players with 26 home runs. Bautista won the AL Hank Aaron Award and a Silver Slugger Award, awards for his offensive performance,[41][42] and finished fourth in the AL Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) voting, behind Hamilton, Miguel Cabrera and Robinson Can. It will be probably four or five years before he has any real chance of playing for the 'stros, assuming he is everything they project him to be. [21] However, his numbers fell off, as he batted between .167 and .231 each month from May through August with two total home runs. If we want to break that cycle of distrust and cut off the pipeline funneling too many of our students into the criminal legal system, we need to Guide to Legal Cannabis Dispensaries in CT, CT Democrats hike spending in Gov. [86], In a home game against the Chicago Cubs on September 8, Bautista hit his 200th home run as a Blue Jay, joining Bell, Delgado, Carter, and Vernon Wells as the only players with 200 or more home runs in franchise history. A list of all players in Major League Baseball. Data Provided By Joey Bats' b-day feat among G3 rarities", "Fans reeling as Blue Jays eliminated in Game 6 heartbreaker", "Blue Jays exercise options on Bautista, Dickey, Encarnacion", "Tension boils over in Blue Jays-Rangers game", "Odor, Bautista among 14 disciplined for brawl", "Jose Bautista's suspension upheld, will miss opener vs. Red Sox", "Jose Bautista does some P.A. Thursday, Aug. 23, 7:30 p.m. $11; $8 seniors, students; $6 members. There, Bautista played for two years until being drafted. In doing so, he became the fourth player in Blue Jays franchise history to hit at least 25 home runs in four consecutive seasons, joining Bell (19841987), Carter (19911996), and Delgado (19962004). Jos Antonio Bautista Santos (born October 19, 1980), nicknamed "Joey Bats",[1] is a Dominican former professional baseball right fielder and third baseman. Minor League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are the property of Minor League Baseball. He led his team in every offensive category for more than 3/4 of games played, as well as leading the league in avg. [128] Bautista hit a double in his first at bat with the Mets. Quad Cities River Bandits activated SS Jean Batista from the 7-day disabled list. He's 17yo, so don't get too excited. It premiered at the Hamptons International Film Festival in 2011 and had a theatrical release in theaters in New York, Los Angeles and Minneapolis in July 2012. Formerly a Blue Jays' minor league roving hitting instructor and hitting coach, Murphy had already spent nearly one year working with Bautista, teaching him to leverage his pull power by starting his swing with his now-familiar high leg kick. Sano is less mature (his nickname is Bocatn Big Mouth). One was to move first base coach Dwayne Murphy to replace the retiring Gene Tenace as hitting coach. Bautista represented the Dominican Republic national baseball team at the 2009 World Baseball Classic and 2017 World Baseball Classic. Jean Carlos Batista. The switch hitter shows a compact swing from both sides of the plate, although he has more power from the left side. Bautista was unanimously selected for the Blue Jays' Player of the Month award, and was also named the AL Player of the Month for the month of April (his third such award in four months, dating back to the 2010 season). Ballplayer: Pelotero is a documentary film focusing on two Dominican Republic Major League Baseball prospects in 2009, Miguel Angel San (nicknamed Bocatn) and Jean Carlos Batista, nicknamed Bat. [75] In the All-Star Game, he recorded the game-winning RBI on a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning as the American League won 30. Its just a bonus that the documentary is so entertaining. [16] Originally considered to be a non-tender candidate, he re-signed with the Blue Jays on a one-year, $2.4million US contract for the 2010 season. How much money does a trainer get if their player does NOT get signed? A documentary about aspiring young baseball players in the Dominican Republic hardly seems to hold the promise of compelling drama. [79] On June 18, he recorded his 1,000 career hit in a game against the New York Yankees. [110], During his final regular season plate appearance against the Texas Rangers on May 15, 2016, Bautista was hit by a pitch from Matt Bush, which many believed to be retaliation by the Rangers organization for Bautista's bat flip in the 2015 ALDS. . Bautista finished 2013 with a .259 batting average, 28 home runs, and 73 RBI. SS Jean Batista assigned to Estrellas de Oriente. Two top baseball prospects in the Dominican Republic face fierce competition and corruption as they chase their big league dreams. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. The film follows Jean Carlos Batista and Miguel Angel Sano, two 16 year-old baseball prodigies stuggling just to eat in their native Dominican Republic, let alone devote their waking lives to baseball. He played for four different clubs before joining the Blue Jays in 2008. Welcome! Batista and Sano are expected to fetch sums in the millions of dollars (most say Sano is the top prospect on the island), but its 2009 and the film presents insiders who predict that MLB will do something to roll back rapidly escalating signing bonuses. [88] In a home game against the Orioles on April 21, Bautista hit his 250th career home run. An MLB All-Star selection six consecutive times, he won three Silver Slugger Awards and two Hank Aaron Awards. [27], Bautista was selected as a reserve for the 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. . Scores from any date in Major League history, Minor, Foreign, College, & Black Baseball, Frequently Asked Questions about MLB and Baseball, Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREE. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Bautista was to be the Pirates' starting third baseman and backup outfielder in 2008. Jose Antonio Bautista.Attended Chipola (FL) Community College. what is jean carlos batista doing nowalexandra ilieva biography. Add Your Blog Posts Here; . Rule Changes Probable Pitchers Starting Lineups Transactions Injury Report World Baseball Classic MLB Draft All-Star Game MLB Pipeline Postseason . Sano, 19, is currently playing third base for the Minnesota Twins' Class A team in Beloit, Wis. Batista, 20, is an infielder with the Houston Astros' Rookie League team in Greeneville, Tenn. [143][144] His second daughter was born in November 2012. He did, however, leave the door open to an opportunity to pitch should it arise. At 5-foot-10, Jean Carlos is 6 inches shorter than his 22-year-old brother, who won the 2015 American League Rookie of . Attended De La Salle High School in Santo Domingo.Was featured as the cover athlete for the Canadian edition of MLB 12: The Show and MLB 13: The Show.Participated in the Toronto Blue Jays Winter Tour in 2013, 2015 & 2017.Is President and Founder of the Bautista Family Education Fund.Dedicated to raising awareness and . Self: Ballplayer: Pelotero. [16][20], Starting the 2009 season on the bench, manager Cito Gaston assigned Bautista to back up Rolen and outfielders Alex Ros and Adam Lind. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays, Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, and Philadelphia Phillies. Join our linker program. On May 17, he was named AL Player of the Week after hitting .444 (8-for-18) with 20 total bases, four home runs, eight RBI, eight runs scored, a .565 OBP, and an MLB-best 1.111 SLG. Batista wears that responsibility like a hat full of stones hes a bright young man with shimmering eyes, but he doesnt always seem emotionally equipped for the harsh realities of a career in baseball. [147], Bautista's younger brother, Luis played college baseball at Florida International University. This is a carousel. Players. The documentary film, to be screened at Stamford's Avon Theatre on Thursday, Aug. 23, provides an intimate portrait of Batista and fellow prospect Miguel Angel Sano as they navigate the calculating, mercenary and often corrupt elements that surround Major League Baseball's recruitment of the Dominican Republic's top talent. For moviegoers, at least for now, theres a worthwhile documentary to get you up to speed. [39] His 52nd home run set a new MLB record for the largest single-season increase in home runs, eclipsing Davey Johnson's 38 home run increase from 1972 to 1973. He speaks with the same confidence as his brother and has the same makeup, but he doesn't have the same body. What does Miguel have to do in order to prove his identity and age? [21] At times he showed marked plate discipline; in the month of May, he walked 14 times for a .403 OBP despite batting just .231. With the help of a savvy homegrown soundtrack and editor Mary Manhardt, Pelotero directors Ross Finkel, Trevor Martin, and Jonathan Paley build the drama in a way that echoes 1994s Hoop Dreams: Will any of these kids make it to the pros? Stubbs has played first base and left field, and Cesar Salazar has played first and second. [16] He won his third Silver Slugger Award for his efforts. They are competing for their lives,. Total Zone Rating and initial framework for Wins above Replacement calculations provided by Sean Smith. Ultimately it didn't matter as Bautista never returned to the MLB in any capacity. See full bio . On August 28, the Jays announced that he would undergo season-ending surgery on the wrist. Find out more. Says Martin, "When you ask him what he wants out of baseball, he says he wants to make it to the big leagues. Learn more. Nothing else." People are open about their desperation in "Ballplayer: Pelotero," a scrappy documentary about teenage ballplayers in the Dominican Republic, including Jean Carlos Batista, who was . [102], On October 8, 2015, with just over 1,400 career games played, Bautista made his postseason debut against the Texas Rangers in the American League Division Series (ALDS). The documentary focuses on two teenagers, Jean Carlos Batista and Miguel Angel Sano, as both approach the critical July 2 international signing day when Dominican 16-year-olds annually become. In 2011, Bautista set up a program that assists athletes from the Dominican Republic to attend universities in the United States. [55], On August 5, with the debut of prospect Brett Lawrie to play third base, Bautista returned to right field. From 2010 to 2017, Bautista hit at least 20 home runs each year, and in four of those seasons, hit at least 35 home runs, both scored and drove in at least 100 runs, and drew at least 100 bases on balls, including twice leading the AL. How old is Miguel Angel? Juan Carlos Batista. [92] Bautista tied Vernon Wells for second place on the Blue Jays' all-time home run list on July 21, when he hit his 223rd home run for Toronto in a 71 win over the Athletics. If any become a better-than-average player, you've really spent the money wisely. Much of the play-by-play, game results, . In November 2019, Bautista expressed desire to continue his career after taking the 2019 season off. and when it grows, you sell it., Ballplayer: Pelotero is full of such crass, unfiltered comments. Jean Carlos Batista Ferroviria videos, transfer history and stats - Sofascore Jean Carlos Batista Receive notifications for this player 23 followers Add Jean Carlos Batista's info to your website! Bautista also received his second consecutive Silver Slugger Award. His mother was an accountant and financial planner, and his father, who had earned a master's degree in agricultural engineering in Hungary, ran poultry farms. [83] On August 26, Bautista hit his 25th home run of the season, and in doing so, joined Carter and Delgado as the only Blue Jays players in franchise history to hit at least 25 in five or more consecutive seasons. Houston Astros signed free agent SS Jean Batista to a minor league contract. Buy MLB.TV Buy At . [78], Bautista opened the 2014 season with a streak of 37 games in which he reached base safely. lf (7) Height 6-2 Weight 180 Bats Both Throws Right Born Nov 15,1991 age 30.093 place Los Mulos,DR High School N/A Colleges None Drafted Houston Astros - 2010 (Signed UDFA) Signing Bonus $300,000 TBC ID 165893 MLBAM ID 602098 15. Who did the first Dominicans play for in the Major Leagues? What do Miguel Angel has to do in order to avoid being suspended? Much of the play-by-play, game results, and transaction information both shown and used to create certain data sets was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. [68] Bautista finished second to Prince Fielder. [16] For the season, he had the lowest line drive percentage of all major league hitters (13.9%). Jean Carlos Batista. [52] On June 23, the Blue Jays shifted Bautista to third base and recalled Eric Thames to play the outfield. Get the latest stats, rankings, scouting reports, and more about Lancaster JetHawks player Jean Batista on Baseball America [139], The Americas qualifier was later rescheduled to be held from 31 May through 5 June in Port St. Lucie and West Palm Beach, Florida, with Bautista as the team's starting first baseman.[140]. The documentary film, to be screened at Stamford's Avon Theatre on Thursday, Aug. 23, provides an intimate portrait of Sano and fellow prospect Jean Carlos Batista as they navigate the calculating, mercenary and often corrupt elements that surround Major League Baseball's recruitment of the Dominican Republic's top talent. He connected Bautista with Don Odermann, a businessman in the San Francisco Bay Area. He was held out of the lineup for several days before returning, exclusively as the designated hitter. His family is depending on him to make it in baseball. Coming from a middle-class family in the Dominican Republic that placed great importance on education, Bautista began studying English at age eight. [44], Bautista agreed to a five-year contract extension worth US$64 million before the 2011 season. [137], On March 12, 2020, he was selected to play for the Dominican Republic at the 2020 Summer Olympics Americas Qualifying,[138] but on the same day, qualifying was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. http://www.dplbaseball.com/index.ph-to-terms-with-the-astros&catid=1:latest-news, http://peloterothemovie.com/press/Pelotero.pdf, (You must log in or sign up to post here. The film follows San through his controversial signing period in 2009. [112] On May 27, MLB announced that they had upheld the suspension. [38] On September 23, Bautista became the 26th player in Major League Baseball history to reach the 50 home run club in one season, and the first Blue Jays player to do so. Or write about sports? The other, Jean Carlos Batista, didn't have the baseball world in the same tizzy but was still seen as a genuine "five-tool" player, meaning he could, at least potentially, hit for. [16] He was the ninth-oldest player in the National League. [118], On January 18, 2017, Bautista signed a one-year, $18 million contract with the Blue Jays. [130] He batted .204 with nine home runs, 37 RBI and a .351 OBP in 83 games with the Mets.[16]. Thats why we need Ballplayer: Pelotero, a well-crafted, bravely revealing little film that could be considered essential education for baseball fans. The little people get abused within this system, and the Dominican players, while not under the control of MLB ( there is no official MLB farm system there) clearly get manipulated here by the owners (MLB), so that the owners can keep signing costs low, or relatively low. "It's a nuanced system, with pluses and minuses.". [135], On May 12, 2022, Bautista was named a special advisor to the general manager for the Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Professional Baseball League.[136]. From 20102015, Bautista hit more home runs than any player in the major leagues. Bautista's professional career began when the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him in the 20th round of the 2000 MLB draft. All rights reserved. [3] After making adjustments to his swing, he broke through with ten home runs in September 2009. The stories these young men tell are moving. While such abuse is nothing new, rarely does it draw such attention. The shortstops, both Dominican, trained. The Mets traded Bautista to the Philadelphia Phillies for a player to be named later or cash on August 28, 2018. The Official Site of Minor League Baseball web site includes features, news, rosters, statistics, schedules, teams, live game radio broadcasts, and video clips. He made his MLB debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 2004, and, that year, became the first player ever to appear on five MLB rosters in one season. [45] He began the season as the starting right fielder for the Blue Jays, with Edwin Encarnacin playing third base. [90] On July 6, Bautista was named to his sixth-consecutive All-Star team, as a reserve outfielder in Cincinnati. Batista was a self-proclaimed captain of Los Potros, not by words but by action. + Add or change photo on IMDbPro . [87] Bautista finished 2014 with a .286 batting average, 35 home runs, and 103 RBI. "If I do something wrong he's right there supporting me. And whos paying attention to the good, bad, and ugly of how they are treated along the way? Correa played all four spots on the infield last year and was . [105] A vital symbol of Toronto's first postseason appearance since 1993,[106] the bat flip was voted Esurance's MLB Award for Best Play on Offense for 2015. See production, box office & company info, excellent movie, another insight into MLB and collusion. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. In a game against the Oakland Athletics on August 20, Bautista walked three times, which brought his season total to 102 walks in 113 games, the fastest a player reached 100 walks since Barry Bonds in 2007. The Astros, who have three or four catchers per Minor League affiliate, prefer their catching prospects be able to play other positions so they can get consistent at-bats -- top prospect Korey Lee has played some first and third base, C.J. Bautista began following Stroman's training regime and which eventually led to a few social media videos - posted by Stroman - showing Bautista pitching and Stroman sharing the opinion that he could "easily" pitch out of a Major League bullpen. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. We should be excited, supposedly the Stros gave this kid $500,000 as a signing bonus, which means management has seen the light and understands they need to spend on youth/prospects/draft picks in order to rebuild the system. Jean Batista assigned to Tri-City ValleyCats from Greeneville Astros. Batista will be starting his milb career in the Dominican Summer League this June. Favorite fibers. Who did the first Dominicans play for in the Major Leagues? Ferroviria Contract until 30 Dec 2023 Nationality BRA 23 Jul 2000 22 yrs Height 6 5 Preferred foot Right Position G Shirt number 24 Player value 3b (19) . More Carlos Batista Pages at Baseball Reference. MLB says the film contains inaccuracies and misrepresentations, but it did increase regulation of the Dominican system after filming finished. Name: Jean Carlos Batista Born: Nov 15, 1991 in La Romana, Dominican Republic Ht. Hamilton surpassed Bautista's record vote total of the prior year. [40] Bautista finished the 2010 season with an MLB-leading 54 home runs, the highest total since Alex Rodriguez hit 54 in 2007. [16], In Game 3 of the ALCS against the Kansas City Royals, Bautista had one hit and two walks, joining Keith Hernandez as the only players in MLB postseason history to reach base three times on their birthday. [124][125] On May12, 2018, Bautista hit his first home run with the Braves. Later someone says of a top prospect, He smells like a major leaguer. What he means is: He smells like money.. Jean Carlos Batista High Level A+ pos 2b (29) . July 12, 2012 11:41am. [113] During the day of his suspension, Bautista served as the public address announcer at Rogers Centre. Actor. For Jean Carlos Batista and Miguel Angel Sano, a contract with Major League Baseball was a ticket out of poverty and into a life of fame and fortune. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Positions: [8] He signed with the Pirates for a $500,000 signing bonus. We present them here for purely educational purposes. [71][72] In 2012, Bautista batted .241 with 27 home runs and 65 RBI in 92 games. [10] In 2003, he played for the Lynchburg Hillcats of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League. He became the first Blue Jay in history to lead the league in All-Star voting. [29], For the month of July, Bautista batted .347, with 11 home runs, 29 RBI, and an AL-leading .765 slugging percentage, sharing American League Player of the Month honors with Twins outfielder Delmon Young. He is suspended for a year and he signs with the Astros, Expresiones Negativas #1, Expresiones Negativ, 3.3 el Vocabulario de la Unidad 3 Leccion 1, Unidad 4 - Leccin 1: Una leyenda mexicana, Human Growth and Development Chapters 3 and 4. I believe it's an unfair system. Sano and Batista are poor. A much-talked-about scene involving hidden-camera footage of Pittsburgh Pirates scout Rene Gayo plays out like an amateur-hour sting: Gayo allegedly offers to make the age investigation go away if Sano signs with his team. This is great news. in Los Mulos, Dominican Republic Ultimately thats for MLB and its partners to answer. He made his MLB debut with Baltimore on April 4, 2004. Jean Carlos Batista; Status . But as a new documentary reveals, the players' dream of joining the majors wasn't quite as they imagined: Wealth and prestige were waiting for them on the ball field, but they had to face down corruption, lies and betrayal to get there. Stay up to date with everything Boston. Date. Pelotero (the Spanish word for ballplayer) has the look and feel of many other modest films about athletes coming up through the system. It begins with shots of dusty ballfields and dedicated young prospects being put through their paces: They hit fat tires with bats to strengthen their swings; they shag fly balls and chase grounders deep into the evening, all while trainers and scouts keep close watch, adding up the potential profits in their heads.