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VERO BEACH, Fla. — There is a palpable excitement this weekend around Jackie Robinson Training Complex, an overwhelming feeling that clings to a person like the thick summer humidity consuming the Treasure Coast facility.
It’s simply called, “The Program.”
On Thursday, some of the best young prospects in the nation were in action as 16 teams began pool play in the Breakthrough Series Invitational U17 Tournament for Class of 2024 and 2025 boys baseball players.
“It’s a four-week program, where we’re going to be doing some development — most importantly development and gearing guys up for tournament play against more high-profile tournaments around the country,” said Kindu Jones, Major League Baseball’s senior coordinator of baseball development. “It’s the first time ever having our Breakthrough Series Invitational, so that’s going to make the four-week program that much more special.
“These guys are going to feel like Minor Leaguers for a little while. We will start here and get the development in around the week, playing in the invitational — and after that we’re going to travel to North Carolina and play in a 16U tournament. Then, we’ll go to Hoover (Ala.), head back to Vero Beach and get ready for the last week of tournaments in Atlanta. That’ll conclude ‘The Program.’ Development is the key.”
And when it comes to development at JRTC, the instruction is fortified by former players and coaches like Marquis Grissom and Bo Porter.
A two-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner in center field, Grissom batted .272 and hit 227 home runs during an impressive 17-year career.
He also led the Majors in stolen bases in 1991 and ’92, with 76 and 78, respectively, and had 429 overall in the big leagues.
“This is a critical age [for players],” said Grissom before his team, MVP/MGBA, began play Friday morning on the Teamwork field behind 42, the sleek indoor workout facility emblazoned with Robinson’s lengthy signature across the windows. “These guys are some real good players that really need the information to get to the next level.
“We’re talking about work ethic, character, baseball IQ and just learning the game. Because the game is different now. It’s more about the numbers and how do we get those numbers up. Back when I played, if you could run fast and hit the ball far, you had an opportunity.
“We’re coming back to the speed and fundamentals, where you’ve got to get a guy over [to the next base]. We’ve got to teach guys winning skills — the little things like getting a guy over and getting him in [to score], being a good teammate and tagging up on a deep fly ball. All that stuff has to come into play.”
One of Grissom’s stops — the fifth of his six clubs — was playing for the Dodgers and manager Jim Tracy for two seasons in 2001 and 2002. Those two campaigns began during February in Spring Training in what was then Dodgertown in the Grapefruit League.
Returning to the legendary site like he has on numerous occasions as an instructor draws up deep memories within Grissom, 56, about the trailblazer who broke baseball’s color barrier, especially during a camp filled with predominantly minority players.
“I think about Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron, man, and what they endured and what they went through to set up something like this 50, 60 years later,” said the 1995 World Series championship winner with his hometown Atlanta Braves. “I had the opportunity to play and be able to come back here and do what we’re doing with these kids. It’s unbelievable. I feel like [what] I’ve accomplished [here] … it’s just as big as winning the World Series.
“To be able to have an impact on anybody [is important], [like] these little African-American kids that look like me — I look like them — and creating this environment where they’ve got the state-of-the-art technology and facility and this complex that [we owe to] that man,” added Grissom as he pointed to a painting of Robinson on the wall, “[who] paved the way for all of us.
“The struggle is still real, but look at the kids here in this camp.”
Porter didn’t have the playing career Grissom did, but he did come to Dodgertown as a coach with the Marlins in the spring of 2007. The Newark, N.J., native also managed the Houston Astros from 2013-14.
He said the message about the former greatness that graced these grounds must get passed on to the youngsters.
“Some of them are sleeping in those same villas,” said Porter as his Future All-Stars prepared to play on the Integrity field behind their lodging. “It’s something that we talk to our kids about a lot. If you’re going to be in this game, it’s very important that you know the history of the game. I think it gives you a great appreciation.
“Our kids have heard me say this before: ‘You’re going to respect the game for those who have come before you and those that will come behind you.’ So there’s a torch to be passed, and it’s our responsibility to make sure it’s being passed from generation to generation.”
