Bahamian Minor Leaguers

Bahamian Minor Leaguers chats about the lockdown.

I asked some of our Bahamian minor leaguers about the lockdown locally at home. And the delay of the start of their minor league season. So are their responses.

Marlins Anfernee Seymour

What are you doing during the lockdown?

Nothing much, just keeping my social distancing, and spending time keeping my mother company.

What were you hoping for this season?

Right now, I am a free agent, and I opted for free agency after the 2019 season. I also was heading to Arizona to the World Baseball Classic qualifiers with team Great Britain to try and qualify for the 2021 games. A few teams were coming out there to watch me play during the qualifier. To see if they would have wanted me to play with their organization. But the qualifier was postponed indefinitely. So that got derailed.

Will this hurt your baseball career?

Honestly, it’s a weird situation for me right now. But mentally, I am strong doing my routines to stay sharp in these uncertain times. Also, I have lots of offers from teams in the Independent Leagues. Even if the option of playing in Japan comes up, I would consider that too. But my over-all minor league experience should hold me through this. I had a good baseball career, which proves that I can play at the top level. Thank you, Anfernee, hang in there. I was pulling for you to get your 500 career hits last year before time ran out, and you finished with 491, 9 hits shy. Hopefully, it happens this year, Be Bless.

Chavez Young Lansing photo by Mathew Carper

What are you doing during the lockdown?

Well, I just go in my boat out to sea, doing my social distancing, and some fishing. Also, some weight training and get in my running. Yeah, doing lots of cleaning up around my home and yard. As you know, last year’s monster hurricane Dorian did a lot of damage to our Island of Grand Bahama. So I am doing some work whiles I am here, keeping busy.

What were you hoping for this season?

I was hoping to build on what I started to do in the second half of the 2019 season before the hurricane halted the season—may be moving up to double-A. I was able to get in some Grapefruit League games, and that was exciting. We have some very young and talented players this year. I think we were/are going to the playoffs.

Will this hurt your baseball career?

This delay is somewhat disappointing for me. You see, this is my rule 5 season, and I was hoping to play well enough to be protected by the Blue Jays. I wanted to make an impression before the rule 5 draft deadline. Well, if the2020 season gets canceled, I could only hope that I will still be eligible next year. Thank you, Chavez, Be Bless and stay safe. 

Warren Saunders

Warren Saunders – New York Mets. Photo by Mathew Carper.

 What are you doing during the lockdown? 

Working out in the house, my trainers do send me a set of regiments to work on to help me get in shape. I go out in the back yard with my neighbor to work on my swings. 

What were you hoping for this season? 

This season I was hoping to break camp on a full-season team. Maybe single A or even high A. 

To improve on last season and my hitting techniques. I hit .320 last season. My hitting workouts in the yard were videotaped and send to my hitting instructors for correction, and for critiquing.  

 Will this hurt your career? 

No, but it will separate the guys who put in the work, from those who took it for a holiday. I am hoping for a call soon. 

Dax Stubbs

Photo By 360 Designs

What are you doing during the lockdown?

Keeping my social distance and staying in the house. I am also doing a lot of body weights and keep in shape. 

What were you hoping for this season?

Hoping to get in my first minor league season finally. And looking forward to having a successful first season. 

 Will this hurt your career? 

No, I am still young. But even anxious to start playing.

Everette Cooper 

Photo by 360 Design

What are you doing during the lockdown?

I am finding ways to stay in shape by going out to the field to work on my defense.  I am eating a lot, and so I must use my body weight to keep me tune and fit. 

What were you hoping for this season?

I was looking to make a first-year impression on my team. And finally, get to play minor league baseball. 

 Will this hurt your career? 

It will not necessarily hurt my career. I do videotape most of my defensive workout to send to my instructor, who in turn would correct what they see me doing wrong

Jeff Francis

Jeffrey was born on April 29th, 1961, in Nassau, Bahamas to Rejoiner Ann Rolle and Jerome James Francis Etienne. Married to Andrea G. Rolle-Francis, they have two daughters; Janae Latoya Francis, a graduate of Allegany College of Maryland, and Jessica Lee Francis a graduate Potomac State College West Virginia University in Kyser West Virginia. Jeffrey was coaching the sport of baseball from 1980 at the age of 18 years old because he loved the sport as a kid. He started listening to the game over the radio out of Miami Florida in the late 60s and in the early 70s started playing the game locally in various local leagues right up to the premier senior league; a league where all of the current Bahamian minor leaguers played. In 1982, Jeffrey had an invite to a three day tryout with the New York Yankees in Hollywood Florida, which was an awesome experience that is lasting a life time memory for him. Jeffrey has been following the Bahamian baseball players in the minor leagues since 1999 with Angelo Burrows, but found greater interest with the signing of Antoan Richardson in 2005. He also writes a year end review on their play on his Facebook page, Baseball Bahamas, and he has a website with the same name. He has a great following and would love to expose the baseball players to a bigger worldwide audience. He has a good relationship with all the players because he personally coached most of them. His favorite MLB Team is the Detroit Tigers from 1969.