Dominican takes advantage of what U.S. has to offer

3B gets education before he goes pro

By David Dorsey
Fort Myers News Press

Jose Leger had a leg up on many of his countrymen.

Leger, native of the Dominican Republic and a 23-year-old third baseman for the Fort Myers Miracle, did not turn professional as a teenager, like so many other Dominican players do.

Instead, Leger — pronounced Lay-HARE — chose the road less traveled, attending Middle Georgia College and then Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Ga.

"I think this was so much better, happening this way," Leger said. "I had the opportunity to get an education here in the states.

"I went to the Division II College World Series two years ago. I learned a lot about baseball when I was in college."

Leger also learned English.

This week, The News-Press will look at the diversity and cultural differences that abound in the Miracle's clubhouse — call it the Miracle Melting Pot.

The Miracle roster has players from 12 states, six countries and three continents.

For Dominican players such as Leger and teammate Angelo Fermin, moving stateside meant making adjustments.

"I've been an English student since I was 12," said Leger, a native Spanish speaker. "I'd go to a special school in the afternoon for two hours a day."

But Leger didn't take his English studies seriously until a man named Don Odderman discovered him and helped him enroll at Middle Georgia College, a junior college in Cochran.

Leger remembers having to buckle down and intensify his efforts to learn English in order to pass the junior college entrance examination.

"I studied pretty hard, because I knew how important it was," he said. "I didn't realize I was going to need English so much."

Miracle manager Riccardo Ingram said he's glad Leger arrived with a good grasp of the English language.

"He works as a translator for the coaches and certain players," Ingram said.

Leger joined the Miracle on June 17 from extended spring training, following the promotion of third baseman Matt Moses to Double-A New Britain.

"He's doing OK," Ingram said of Leger, who entered Monday hitting .197, with one home run, one stolen base and six RBI. "For jumping to this level, he's holding his own. He's not overmatched."

Leger said he felt overmatched at times upon arriving in the United States because of some cultural differences.

"In the Dominican, we show our emotions, like right away," Leger said. "You can tell right away when a Latin person is mad. But after living here for so long, I've come to control that."

Leger said he has adjusted to the sarcasm that many Americans use.

"People used to make fun of my accent," he said. "Latin people, we easily get upset. Things like that don't bother me anymore. I don't care now. I'm used to it."

Leger also has gotten used to the food.

"Back home, we eat rice every day," he said. "Rice and beans. My mom and grandma and little brother came to visit last week. My mom cooked rice every day.

"It was nice. It felt like I was back home."