Showcases On Hold In Response To International Draft

Until there is a resolution regarding a proposed international draft, several trainers in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela have decided to suspend holding showcases for players.

According to multiple sources, players are still available for teams to evaluate them if scouts go to their fields, where the players train and sometimes participate in games against players from other programs. Teams can also bring players in to their academies, if the players are at least 16 and thus eligible to enter the academy.

However, in an effort to show their opposition to an international draft, several trainers decided they won’t bring their top players together to have any major showcases, for now. A showcase for Venezuelan players in Aruba that was scheduled for Nov. 12-13 was postponed, as have other showcases in the Dominican Republic. While the Venezuelan showcase was postponed, scouts were able to watch a smaller workout for around a dozen Aruban players instead.

The Collective Bargaining Agreement expires on Dec. 1. Major League Baseball has proposed major international reforms to the players’ association, including an international draft and eventually raising the signing age from 16 to 18.

In recent weeks, MLB has cancelled both its Dominican and Venezuelan national showcases in response to protests from players and their trainers who were planning to skip the events.