This article originally appeared on nj.com on Feb. 25, 2009.
Newark Mayor Cory Booker today honored four Major League Baseball players who got their start on the North Ward Center's RBI All-Star team.
During a City Hall Ceremony, Hector Santiago, Burt Reynolds, David Genao and Trevor Reckling were praised by the mayor for their dedication and hard work to their craft.
"Newark faces a lot of challenging issues, but your achievements give us something to celebrate, and we are all grateful to you and, most importantly, your families, for your success," the mayor said. "We rejoice in you."
The mayor presented the three players with a letter of accommodation as well as a t-shirt and a Newark Bears baseball bearing his signature.
"I know you have more plaques and trophies than you have room for," Booker said.
Santiago, 21, Reynolds, 20, and Reckling, 19, and Genao 22, begin spring training in a few days. They were all drafted within the last two years and play for the minor league affiliates of Major League Baseball teams.
Santiago is a pitcher for the Kannapolis Intimidators, the Class A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.
Born in Newark, Santiago played in the Ironbound Little League, the Roberto Clemente Little League, and the Rick Cerone Little League. The southpaw played for the North Ward Center's team from 2002 to 2006. Santiago attended Essex Catholic his freshman year before transferring to Bloomfield Technology High School. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 30th Round while attending Okaloosa-Walton College (now known as Northwest Florida State College). During his first year in professional baseball, he played for the Bristol Sox in the Appalachian League.
Santiago also had help at home in achieving baseball success, his younger brother Anthony Santiago, age 19, who was a catcher at Bloomfield Tech and is also hoping to play professional baseball.
"I was his catcher since we were little," said the younger Santiago brother. "When Hector was signed, we were happy and proud. We need people like him to show that Newark is not as bad as it seems."
Reynolds is a third baseman for the Princeton Rays, the Appalachian League Rookie affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. Born in San Pedro de Macoris and raised in Newark, Reynolds played in the Rick Cerone Little League as well as the North Ward Center's All Stars.
A 2006 graduate of Bloomfield Technology High School, he was signed as a "draft and follow" by the Washington Nationals and attended Okaloosa Walton college for one year. But he was injured and couldn't play. In 2007, he returned to his birthplace to play baseball. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008. Reynolds' cousin, Robinson Cano, is the second baseman for the New York Yankees.
"I always loved the game," said Reynolds, who is related to Yankee second baseman Robinson Cano. His parents came to every game he played, he added. His advice to future major leaguers: "Work hard, follow your dream, and block out the negatives."
Reckling, a left-handed pitcher, played in the Irvington Little League, then joined the North Ward squad at age 14. A 2007 graduate of St. Benedicts, Reckling was drafted in the 8th round by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He played his first year with the Rookie level Angels in the Arizona league. Last season, he played in Iowa for the Cedar Rapids Kernals, the Single A affiliate of the Angels. This year, he is expected to play for the Rancho Cugomungo Quakes, the Angels' High-A affiliate.
Genao, 22, who could not attend the ceremony, played in the Ironbound Little League, the North Ward All-Stars, and St. Benedict's High School, where he batted .578 as a senior. He graduated from St. Benedict's in 2004, and continued his education at Oral Roberts University, playing baseball for their Golden Eagles. In the summer of 2007, he played for the Haymarket Senators in the Valley Baseball League and the Peninsula Oilers in the Alaska Baseball League. After graduating from Oral Roberts in 2008, he was signed by the Tampa Bay Rays and plays on their Princeton farm team.
At the ceremony, Councilmember-at-Large Carlos Gonzalez and North Ward Council Member Anibal Ramos, Jr. joined Essex County Freeholder Samuel Gonzalez in honoring the young men.
"I've known all four of these young men since they were 10 or 13," Gonzalez said.
"They excelled academically as well as athletically, and they had the greatest families, people who were always there at the games to support them."
"This is a great opportunity to recognize youngsters who make us proud," Ramos said. "They are great kids from the North Ward with great athletic abilities and ethics. They show what we can do with a good family structure. I am proud of you all."
Rashard Casey, who runs the Youth Development program for the North Ward Center, said the players are great role models.
"We're proud to have been a part of their development," Casey said. "The lessons they learned in our program about teamwork, sportsmanship, hard work will help them as they advance in their careers."
Booker told the players that they will make it because they are from Newark.
"As you advance," Booker told the ballplayers, "The competition will get harder. It will take a lot out of you. But you are up to it. You are from Brick City. You are a bit of our bricks."
The North Ward Center fields about 30 teams each year for boys and girls ages 5-16. Games are played at a new, state-of-the-art facility at Branch Brook Park.
The North Ward Center also runs the RBI program for Newark. RBI or Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities, is sponsored by Major League Baseball as a way to provide disadvantaged youth an opportunity to learn the game. The program has a junior level for players 13-15 and a senior level for players 16-18.
