Freeport's Vinas signs with Yankees
December 21, 2010 by KEN DAVIDOFF / ken.davidoff@newsday.com
His life changed when his friend Herman Hernandez introduced him to Ray Negron, who introduced him to Hank Steinbrenner. And Tuesday in Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood, Vinas met Brian Cashman, who officially signed the righthanded pitcher to a professional contract.
"I've been to Japan and China to try to find players," Cashman, the Yankees' general manager, said at Out 27, a neighborhood restaurant owned by huge baseball enthusiast Miguel Montas. "It's great to be able to look around the corner, in our backyard, and find someone."
At Hank Steinbrenner's behest, Vinas traveled to Tampa after the season and pitched in front of vice president of amateur scouting Damon Oppenheimer, senior vice president of baseball operations Mark Newman and vice president of player personnel Billy Connors. After three such tryouts, the Yankees offered Vinas a signing bonus in the low four figures. He's hardly a top prospect, yet he'll get a chance to show his stuff in spring training.
"When it comes to baseball, I'm never nervous," Vinas said.
Born in the Dominican Republic, he moved to Freeport when he was 11 years old. He pitched for Freeport High School, he said, but didn't get much attention from professional scouts.
"Our team wasn't really good," Vinas said. "Nobody really came over."
Upon graduating, he hung out with a troublemaking crowd. Hernandez, an area youth baseball coach who had known Vinas for years, kept an eye on the young man. So when Negron and Steinbrenner agreed to put together a team, coached by the Yankees adviser Negron, Vinas ranked among Hernandez's highest recommendations.
"I told him, 'This will get you out of the streets,' " Hernandez said. "He took off and straightened up."
Steinbrenner and Negron are planning another Hank's Yanks team for 2011. The venture will get more publicity because top players such as third baseman Matt Duran (of New Rochelle) and William Jerez (Grand Street Campus in Brooklyn) could get strong attention in the 2011 amateur draft.
"Now we're hoping to keep the other kids out of the streets," Hernandez said.
I want to thank the NY Yankees for giving us another example of how the corporate rich exploit the poor in our country. Second, Coaches Negron and Hernandez portrayal of Lionel Vinas as a young man heading in the wrong direction and or menace to our society is disgusting and speaks to the character of these individuals representing young men of New York City and Long Island. Third, I want to again thank the Yankees for arming me with the necessary ammunition to speak against kids being mislead and trying to obtain a professional contract instead of pursuing a college degree.
ReplyDeleteLuis Rodriguez Richmond Hill High School , Freeport resident
I want to thank the NY Yankees for giving us another example of how the corporate rich exploit the poor in our country. Second, Coaches Negron and Hernandez portrayal of Lionel Vinas as a young man heading in the wrong direction and or menace to our society is disgusting and speaks to the character of these individuals representing young men of New York City and Long Island. Third, I want to again thank the Yankees for arming me with the necessary ammunition to speak against kids being mislead and trying to obtain a professional contract instead of pursuing a college degree.
ReplyDeleteLuis Rodriguez Richmond Hill High School , Freeport resident
Interesting point Mr. Rodriguez. I am sure you have much insight on this student, and am guessing you know him personally. Education should be the goal of any student. Without one, they have very little. I would hope that the Yankees make sure that his education is their number one priority, making him a better person on and off the field. Please post any additional information you gather on this as time passes. Thank you again for the post.
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