NIGUA, Dominican Republic.- The New York Mets recognizes that Latin America’s best talent is in the Dominican Republic, main reason for their taking the necessary steps to build an academy to promote and develop ball players.

In a ceremony held yesterday in this community, the New York Mets began a relationship with the Hope International Foundation, headed by the ex-Major Leaguer Dave Valle.

Mets vice-president and operations chief Jeff Wilson, and general manager Omar Minaya, headed a delegation on Thursday to donate 25,000 dollars the charitable organization, to be used for education, community health and loan programs in the Caribbean island’s poorest provinces.

The infielders David Wright and Julio Franco, the outfielder Moisés Alou and the pitchers Pedro Martinez and Ambiorix Burgos represented the players of the National League club.

"It is a reason for great pride for us to be involved in this type of program," said Wilson.

"We want the Mets to be recognized as a team that signs good Dominican ballplayers, but that also has close ties with the community," said Minaya.

Minaya announced that the Mets are seriously thinking of building their own academy to develop players in the Dominican Republic. The team has as its base a complex rented from the ex-pitcher Mélido Perez.

"The organization feels that that there are sufficient reasons to build an academy and to improve our facilities," Minaya said, adding that the complex could be located in Small.