There is frequent talk in baseball circles about creating an international draft to level the playing field, but it has just been talk. Until Puerto Rico is taken out of the draft, or everyone else is included, the trends are unlikely to change.
“Teams have moved on and put more money and scouting in Venezuela and the Dominican because it’s not part of the draft,” said Omar Minaya, the general manager of the Mets. “The key is that you’re getting more kids from the Dominican and Venezuela, and you have a hand in developing them.”…
By contrast, the Mets’ academy in the Dominican Republic, which opened in 2005, has already produced Fernando Martinez, Jenrry Mejia and Ruben Tejada, who have all played in the major leagues.
Baseball has also pledged to support the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy, said Noelia Lugo, the school’s executive director. The high school will open next year in the town of Florida with about 150 students and an English-language curriculum. Beltran has donated $2 million, about a quarter of the school’s cost, Lugo said.
Lots and lots of interesting stuff here. I mentioned back in April that it seemed strange that there were so few Puerto Ricans on Major League rosters, and Belson offers an explanation why: Once Puerto Rican players were added to the draft in 1989, MLB teams had to wait until they turned 18 or graduated high school to take them, at which point they were competing with players from the continental U.S. the same with access to much better coaching and facilities. Dominican and Venezuelan players can be signed at 16 and brought up through team academies.
Also, Tejada is from Panama. It’s entirely believable that he went to the Mets’ Dominican academy and I have no reason to doubt Belson’s reporting, but assuming it’s true, man. Did Tejada really move from Panama to the D.R. at 16, then play in the Venezuelan league at 17, then onto the Florida State League at 18? That’s a well-traveled 20-year-old.
Finally, the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy. Awesome. All schools should teach kids to play baseball like Carlos Beltran.
Tedquarters 
I think a team of Carlos Beltrans produced by the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy would beat that team of Mark McGwires we were talking about a while ago.
Oh no doubt. The McGwires — or any other opponent, for that matter — would not be able to see through their tears after beholding the beauty that is Team Carlos Beltran.