According to Kevin Kaduk from Yahoo Sports, the Rays are planning on becoming the first team to open a training center in Brazil. The Rays will invest $6.5MM in the camp, located in Marilia, over the next five years. Up to 4,000 young people will have the chance to learn baseball in a free after-school program.
Kaduk points out that strides have been made in other new regions of the world, including China and the Pirates' recent signings from India.
Andres Reiner, the Rays' special director of development, mentions the athleticism of Brazilian soccer players, and wonders if that athleticism could transfer over into baseball as well:
"Brazil has been good at producing athletes … Brazil has a lot of people, millions of young people and not everyone can play soccer. If they aren't good soccer players they can be good baseball players."
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