Edwin Correa, 16 years old and away from his home in Puerto Rico for the
first time, stood at a pay phone in Florida.
His mom was on the other end of the line. Correa began to get choked up.
He had to think of an excuse so he could compose himself.
"I had to tell her a loud truck was coming because I started crying and
crying," said Correa. "It was a shock, being away from my parents for
the first time. I didn't want them to feel bad, thinking, 'He's
struggling by himself.' I didn't want them to feel like I was homesick.
I had a plan in mind, and I wanted to accomplish that."
Correa had more than one plan in mind. One of his goals was to pitch in
the major leagues, a goal he accomplished in 1985 when, at the age of
18, he was called up by the Chicago White Sox.
Another plan was to become fluent in English, which he also
accomplished. And while his baseball career flamed out after three years
because of a shoulder injury, Correa's dedication to education has led
him to establish the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and High School, which
is located on the Universidad del Turabo campus in Gurabo.
The school was founded in August, 2002. And this past May, Major League
Baseball was so impressed with the facility and the concept that it
donated $50,000 to help nurture Correa's concept.
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PUERTO RICO ACADEMY
ENROLLMENT: 160 (chosen from 2,000 applicants)
TUITION: $5,500 per year
BASEBALL INSTRUCTION:
From 7:30 a.m. to noon
CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION: 1-5
p.m.
NUMBER OF INSTRUCTORS: 12 (including former
major-leaguer Juan Beniquez)
NUMBER OF TRAINERS: 6
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Correa, who also serves as a scout for the Boston Red Sox, was
appreciative of MLB's donation, saying his school "will not only provide
young people with opportunities to establish and achieve their life
goals, but it will also contribute significantly to Puerto Rico's
continued social and economic development."
Designing the school curriculum, along with such Latin stars as Orlando
Cepeda, Roberto Alomar, Jose Vidro and Carlos Delgado, has been a labor
of love in many regards for Correa.
"I tell the kids one of my favorite phrases is, 'If I don't give back
what I have learned through baseball, I'd be stealing from baseball, and
I don't want to do that,' " said Correa.
Correa, who coached Pedro Martinez and current Dodger relief ace Eric
Gagne, among others, in the Los Angeles Dodgers' minor-league system,
saw a need for such a school when he would come into contact with
youngsters from Puerto Rico.
It is not, however, just a school of endless ground balls, batting
practice and games. The curriculum includes other aspects of the
baseball business, such as sports writing, sports photography, scouting
and becoming a trainer.
"It's everything you can find in the science of baseball. Anything
involved in baseball, we can help you take your first step. We do teach
baseball, but there's more because anyone can take baseball away from
you, but education, no one can take that away from you," said Correa.
"We're going to see the results in 2004, when we'll have our first
graduation," said Correa. "But besides that, we're looking 10 years down
the road. There are going to be some great baseball players and some
great citizens coming from here."
He's hoping that he'll be able to interest his employers, the Boston Red
Sox, in some of his graduates.
"I've heard (general manager Theo) Epstein say he prefers drafting
college players, but we're going to produce high school players with
proper education and professional training," said Correa. "The quality
we will have will be great. Maybe we'll have a chance to sign some of
them to the Boston Red Sox."
