NOT ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT CATCH—A CHANCE TO CHASE DREAMS BEYOND FAME
WILLEMSTAD, CURAÇAO—He was the Gold Glove standard, the defensive genius who became an immortal symbol of the Atlanta Braves. But today, Andruw Jones is creating a different kind of miracle. During an emotional visit to his home island of Curaçao, Jones has officially unveiled a landmark Caribbean-wide charity project aimed at empowering thousands of young athletes to chase their baseball dreams, ensuring the legacy of the game transcends fame and money.
The initiative marks a massive expansion of Jones’s long-standing commitment to the region, shifting from hosting annual youth tournaments to building a permanent foundation of hope, infrastructure, and education across the islands.
THE “BEYOND THE DIAMOND” STRATEGY
Jones, who famously burst onto the scene in the 1996 World Series as a 19-year-old, has always carried the weight of being the blueprint for the next generation of Caribbean stars like Ozzie Albies, Kenley Jansen, and Jurickson Profar. This new project moves beyond the “highlight catch” and focuses on the “life-long save.”
Building Better Fields: The foundation’s first major commitment involves funding the renovation of local baseball facilities across Curaçao, with plans to expand into the Dominican Republic and Aruba. These facilities will offer year-round, professional-grade training access to children regardless of their economic background.
The Educational Pivot: Unlike traditional baseball academies, the program includes a mandatory academic component. Jones emphasized that while only a small percentage will reach the MLB, every child in the program should leave with a path to college or professional stability.
Legacy Mentorship: The project will leverage a network of current and former Caribbean MLB stars to provide direct mentorship, teaching young players how to navigate the pressures of international scouting and the sudden wealth of professional sports.
“OUR HOME, OUR HOPE”
Addressing a crowd of aspiring young ballplayers in Willemstad, Jones kept his remarks focused on the “soul” of the game rather than his own accolades.
“When I was young, we played with sticks and bottle caps because we had the dream, but we didn’t always have the tools,” Jones said, his voice ringing with pride. “Baseball gave me a career, but this project gives these kids a future. This is about changing lives, one island at a time, and showing them that home is where their hope begins.”
The announcement resonates deeply, confirming that for one of baseball’s greatest defensive minds, the biggest save of his life is happening off the field—ensuring the Caribbean’s baseball spirit remains vibrant for generations to come.
