Info for Dominican Republic Fantasy Camp Guests

Dear Shane, 

You are receiving this email because you expressed interest in joining our inaugural Dominican Republic Fantasy Camp. Thank you for your interest! That you even signed up means that you are a curious, adventurous baseball-lover, which means you’re my type of person!

In this email, I wanted to assure you that this camp is a “go” and share some of the preliminary details. In forthcoming correspondence, I will share more information, such as pricing and booking details, guidance on purchasing your flights, a full itinerary, and information to prepare you for travel to the D.R.

I'm sorry for the lack of communication since you signed up. I’ve been busy planning our annual Japan tours and chasing my toddler around, but I’m finally ready to focus on the latter part of the year and ensuring that your Caribbean baseball adventure is the trip of a lifetime.

I brought my son, Brooks (as in Robinson), on our annual DR tour last year. The photo on the left is easily the most rugged baseball field you'll ever see - it is an abandoned construction site full of jagged rocks. Over 100 kids practice there every day! The photo on the right is with a 16-year-old prospect who has a seven-figure verbal agreement to sign with an MLB team! Maybe the next Juan Soto?

First, the dates. Our tour begins on November 3 and ends on September 9, with multiple options to extend your journey. We will spend the first part of the tour staying at Hotel Casa Hemingway, a boutique oceanside resort with a private beach in Juan Dolio.

Juan Dolio is within the epicenter of Dominican baseball, nestled between the Boca Chica area, where most of the MLB team development academies are, and San Pedro de Macoris, aka La Cuña de Campocortos (“The Cradle of Shortstops”), which some say is where the soul of baseball resides. If you want to learn more, I compiled a list of resources for you to learn more about the DR's baseball culture.

Even on our non-playing Dominican tours, we manage to get some swings in! On the left, we are playing vitilla, a form of Dominican stickball played with a bottle cap and broomstick. On the right, we are taking hacks at the same cages where many big leaguers, including Juan Soto and Vladdy Jr., get their workouts in during the offseason.

Please know that this is not your typical Fantasy Camp for many reasons, the first of which is that this tour is designed to be an immersive cultural and baseball experience in which your time on the field is just one of the many memorable activities we have planned.

Another reason is that spouses and partners are encouraged to come and will be involved in all of the non-playing activities. And when you are frolicking about on the Dominican fields, partners can enjoy our hotel’s screensaver-worthy private beach, four pools, beautiful restaurants and bars on the water, and in-room massages.The tour will end with two nights in the capital of Santo Domingo, where we will continue the baseball and cultural sightseeing. Santo Domingo is full of history – it was chosen by European settlers as the site for the first modern city in the Americas – and unique baseball opportunities.

Ballplayers that our guests have met in the past include (top) Juan Soto, (middle row from left) Oneil Cruz, Juan Uribe, Miguel Batista, (bottom row) Fernando Tatis Jr., Mel Rojas, and Francisco Cordero.

Here’s a brief overview of your intended tour activities:

• 4-5 games or joint practices
• Attend two LIDOM winter league games
• Tour historic baseball and cultural sites
• Cultural presentation
• MLB team academy visit
• Youth program visit and equipment donation
• Many delicious, local meals at different restaurants
• Rum factory tour and tasting
• Cigar factory visit and baseball-centric cigar club hang

If that’s not enough, you have the opportunity to extend your tour to attend more winter league games, revel in more baseball camaraderie, and experience all that the island has to offer.

I could go on forever, but I will spare you and save more for my next correspondence.

For now, please know that this is happening, and I’d love for you to be a Caribbean baseball pioneer by being part of our first Fantasy Camp class.

Please ask any questions at all by replying to this email. Thanks again for your interest!

Saludos,

Shane Barclay

(646) 391-3130

Shane@JapanBall.com