GROUND BROKEN ON BASEBALL ACADEMY IN OAXACA

A new baseball academy is being constructed in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. Organizers behind the Alfredo Harp Helu Academy in San Bartolo Coyotepec had a groundbreaking ceremony last month.

The academy will take up about five acres of land and include two full-sized baseball fields, an infield area, three batting cages and six roofed bullpens (with a central tower installed at the top of one of the two full fields). The complex will also include a kitchen and dining room, a multipurpose room, a medical center for therapy and rehabilitation, a dressing room with showers, a gymnasium, laundry facilities, a library with computers and a TV/reading area, all within an 18,000-square foot building.

Alfredo Harp Helu is the 65-year-old former owner of Banamex, the largest bank in Latin America. The Mexico City-born Harp is worth approximately US$1.8 billion, and owns all or part of the Mexico City Diablos Rojos and Oaxaca Guerreros. At the groundbreaking ceremony, Harp told those gathered, “Today, a dream comes true for us, especially for many young talents who want to dedicate their lives to the profession of a ballplayer.”

The academy is expected to open in late 2010.