MLBPAA creates Desarrollo Profesional to assist Spanish-speaking players in post-playing days
The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association¡¯s Career Development Summit has evolved into such a valuable resource for former big leaguers in figuring out that next step after baseball, so much so that the event has now expanded its reach.
Inspired by the positive impact of the summit since its inception in 2018, the MLBPAA in collaboration with the Major League Baseball Players Association created Desarrollo Profesional, a new all-Spanish networking event for Spanish-speaking players seeking guidance in their post-playing journey through life.
The event was held from Jan. 23-24 inside the Miami Airport Marriott. The two-day program included player attendees ¨C many of whom were joined by their spouses or other family members ¨C and featured former player panelists and industry professionals. Among those former players was former Blue Jays slugger Jos¨¦ Bautista, who was part of a four-person panel alongside Pedro Feliz, Fernando Alvarez and Willie Collazo to discuss post-baseball entrepreneurial opportunities.
¡°This has been an excellent event put on by the MLBPAA,¡± said Bautista, who is now involved in soccer as the principal owner of the Las Vegas Lights SC of the United Soccer League Championship (USL). ¡°We¡¯ve been able to reconnect with a lot of our former teammates and friends to see what they¡¯re up to these days, as well as create new connections and friendships and open up new horizons for different opportunities and business that is possible. I was glad to be here and hope I get a chance to come back in the future.¡±
Bautista¡¯s panel was just one of several sessions put together over the two days by the MLBPAA. Other panels focused on the mental aspect of transitioning from a playing career, discovering and building your strengths, the business side of baseball and broadcasting. Experts also staged mock interviews, training on how to get into coaching and offered tips on interviews, real estate, investments, insurance and more.
¡°If you¡¯re a player who has recently retired, I strongly encourage you to come to this type of event,¡± Bautista said. ¡°Life does not stop after baseball. The transition after baseball can sometimes be difficult. I know it was for me. But to have the support of a group of people who care and want to help is essential. Here with this group at MLBPAA, you can find that.¡±
Shortly after retiring from professional baseball as a player, Julio Borbon began climbing a new ladder by joining the Yankees organization as a coach. Recently hired as the Brewers' first base coach for the 2025 season, his first Major League coaching gig, Borbon was joined by Kevin Reese and Carlos G¨®mez for a panel to help former players lay out a road map to get into scouting and player development.
¡°Honestly, every part about [Desarollo Profesional] was my favorite, simply for the reason that it helps you with the transition from player to ex-player,¡± Borbon said. ¡°It gives you a large quantity of options. You can be a coach. You can be a manager. You can work in the front office. You can be an entrepreneur and have your own business. It gives you a lot of options. Obviously, one of my favorite things is that you get to connect with a lot of ex-teammates you played with throughout your career.
¡°It¡¯s an important event because it brings so many options for players to take into account what they want to do after baseball.¡±
With this being the first iteration of Desarollo Profesional, the hope that the event will grow in both attendees and panels over the coming years.
¡°What inspired me more than anything was the audience and how many former Latino players decided to attend this event,¡± said former Rays broadcaster Orestes Destrade, who hosted Broadcasting 101 along with Marvin Benard and Bengie Molina. ¡°I saw how they are accepting it and viewing it and learning from it. What we¡¯re presenting here is an education for players from all kinds of different levels. There are players like me who only played a few years in the big leagues and others who played for 15 or 20 years like Jos¨¦ Bautista. This has truly been a huge success.
¡°For us Hispanic people who have made such a big impact in the world of baseball over the last 50 years, this is a good opportunity to learn about the other side of baseball and the other side of life outside of baseball. Everyone is appreciating this opportunity and learning from it.¡±