Beyond the Game: SMBA ’26 in the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is the undisputed heart of international baseball operations and a masterclass in how sport shapes a culture. The SMBA Class of 2026 recently traveled to the island for a week of immersion that challenged the cohort's understanding of the industry and the role of sports professionals in a global context.
The study abroad trip gave the cohort a firsthand look at baseball in one of the most important talent pipelines in the world. Students visited Major League Baseball’s Dominican Republic headquarters, MLB’s only international operations office, where they learned about the league’s work across Latin America and the systems that support athletes long before reaching the major leagues.
The cohort also toured the San Diego Padres, Minnesota Twins, and New York Mets academies. At each stop, students heard from staff in player development, education, and operations about the work that goes into preparing young prospects for the next level. These visits showed the class that signing a professional contract is only one part of the journey. Behind every athlete is a full support system focused on growth on and off the field.
At Pimentel Baseball Academy, an independent training facility, students saw a different side of that same dream. Young athletes trained with the hope of being noticed by a professional organization, giving the cohort a powerful look at the sacrifice, pressure, and determination that shape the path for so many players in the Dominican Republic.
The class also visited Tigres del Licey, the most popular team in LIDOM, Liga de Béisbol Profesional de la República Dominicana, and met with executives from Banco BHD, a longstanding MLB partner in the Dominican Republic. Together, these visits gave students a deeper understanding of the business, culture, and economic impact of baseball across the country.
Beyond baseball, SMBA ’26 visited the Liga Dominicana de Fútbol offices to learn about the growth of professional soccer in the Dominican Republic and the challenges that come with building momentum in a country where baseball has such a deep cultural presence.
Before arriving on the island, the class raised more than $10,000 and collected in kind donations including children’s games, sports apparel, and sports equipment, which were distributed to the schools, sports programs, and communities visited throughout the week.
Some of the most memorable moments came at a local high school and community sports club, where the cohort spent time playing pickup baseball, volleyball, and more with students and children from the community. Despite language barriers, sports created an immediate sense of connection. Conversations turned into laughter, teams formed naturally, and within minutes, everyone was simply enjoying the moment together.
