The Dominican Baseball Factory is possibly the best long form article I’ve ever read. It is both fascinating and, at times, almost unbearably sad.
In their search for the next Dominican star, major league teams pursue what one general manager called a “boatload mentality.” Every year, teams sign about 450 Dominican prospects, most for bonuses around $30,000. Fewer than two-thirds will make it to the lowest minor leagues, and less than 10% will play a day in the majors, according to MLB data.