Every baseballer dreams of making it to the majors one day, working to refine their skills. With a little bit of luck on their side, talented players from all over the globe find their way to the Major League Baseball. The same has been the case for the Dominican Republic, which has strong roots in the sport. But a recent case of armed robbery in the Caribbean country has highlighted an unfortunate dark side.

Dominican players currently populate the league, showcasing just how much talent the Latin American country produces. MLB has focused on establishing dedicated schools to nurture more talent and allow a smoother transition to the USA. All 30 teams have an academy associated with them in the country. But some of them have been victims of attack this year.

Number of MLB Academies Attacked by Armed Robbers Reaches All-Time High

With the Boston Red Sox’s school attacked earlier this year, many thought stricter measures would come into play. But according to MLB insider Hector Gomez, the situation has only escalated. He detailed a long list of teams that have found themselves at the mercy of armed robbers lately, including the Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, and the San Francisco Giants.

Out of 30 teams, exactly half have been attacked. Gomez’s list includes the St. Louis Cardinals, the Cleveland Guardians, the Miami Marlins, the Baltimore Orioles, the Chicago Cubs, the New York Mets, and the Seattle Mariners. But the list doesn’t end there – the Minnesota Twins, the Colorado Rockies, the Cincinnati Reds, and the Los Angeles Angels are also included.

Somehow, the robbers have not touched big names like the New York Yankees and Houston Astros, among the remaining half. Additionally, it’s unknown whether these incidents are related, or if the same group of individuals is behind them. What is certain is that better security measures are the need of the hour. This list came on the heels of a major attack on the Cardinals’ facility.

None Harmed in Gunpoint Robbery of St. Louis Cardinals Academy

Boca Chica, Dominican Republic, became an unfortunate scene of crime on Friday when thieves armed with guns attacked. Unlike similar incidents before, where the robbers focused on baseball equipment, the incident at the Cardinals Academy was different.

Reportedly, the burglars also took money from players and coaches and other valuables from safes, who were brought out of their rooms at gunpoint. Fortunately, no one was harmed or injured, but this was certainly a change of pattern from previous incidents.

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Unless the league takes stringent measures, there’s no telling what the next such happening will bring.

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