Calero & Sullivan
Baseball Management, LLC
November 2007: Calero & Sullivan are proud to announce the beginning of a partnership with Benigno “Benny” Ayala's organization of approximately 120 former professional players from Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rican Major League Senior Stars, to help retired Puerto Rican players in such areas as pensions, health insurance, celebrity baseball clinics, training clinics for children, etc. Mr. Ayala played outfield, first base, and designated hitter in the bigs from 1974 to 1985 for the New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians. On August 24, 1974, Benny Ayala stepped to the plate for the first time as a Major League player. With 1 out in the 2nd inning Ayala dug in against Houston right-hander Tom Griffin and became the first Met to hit a home run in his first at bat.
Calero & Sullivan and Mr. Ayala successfully organized a meeting with 118 former professional baseball players from Puerto Rico and the Major League Baseball Players' Alumni Association (the first of its kind in Puerto Rico) to educate the players about pensions, health insurance, baseball clinics and the Baseball Assistance Team, a charity for professional baseball players who have run into unfortunate circumstances. Since this historic meeting, numerous players have been helped by the Baseball Assistance Team have participated in training clinics and have received much needed financial and medical support.
January 2008: Calero & Sullivan attend the American Baseball Coaches Association Convention in Philadelphia.
January 2008: The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association invites Kike Calero and Jason Sullivan to attend the Baseball Assistance Team Annual Dinner in New York City. Kike and Jason attend with Benny Ayala, 10- year MLB Veteran. NY Mets star David Wright is the keynote speaker.
February 2008: Kike and Jason host a try-out camp in Puerto Rico for Independent Leagues and colleges.
March 2008: Kike and Jason attend Major and Minor League Spring Training in Florida.
March 2008: Calero & Sullivan sign Venezuelan Free-Agent Rolando Petit to a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians.
May 2008: Calero & Sullivan client and former Big Leaguer Raul Gonzalez signs AAA deal with the New York Mets.
May 2008: Jason and Kike travel to Puerto Rico for pre-draft advising for their clients.
June 2008: Calero & Sullivan advises its clients regarding the 2008 MLB Draft.
June 2008: Calero & Sullivan client Orlando Rodriguez signs Free-Agent minor league deal with the New York Mets.
June 2008: Calero & Sullivan client Angel Molina leads the Frontier League in several categories, including home runs, extra base hits and runs scored.
June 2008: Calero & Sullivan client Emilio "Millito" Navarro (born September 26, 1905) was the first Puerto Rican to play baseball in the Negro Leagues. At 102, Navarro is also the oldest living professional baseball player. On June 6, 2008, Major League Baseball held a ceremonial Negro League draft prior to the Amateur draft, in which Navarro was honored by the New York Yankees, being symbolically drafted by the team.
July 2008: Calero & Sullivan client Angel Molina is named to the Frontier League 2008 All-Star Game representing the Florence Freedom.
July 2008: Calero & Sullivan client Rafy Chaves, New York Yankees AAA Pitching Coach, is named Pitching Coach for 2008 Futures Game at Yankees Stadium.
July 2008: Calero and Sullivan client Angel Molina wins the Frontier League All-Star Game Home Run Derby.
July 2008: The 16th annual Frontier League All-Star Game was decided in a home run derby for the fourth time in the last seven years before 6,032 fans at Traverse City’s Wuerfel Park. Calero & Sullivan client Angel Molina of the Florence Freedom received the Alex Gamez MVP Award after hitting the tying homer in the first derby round.
August 2008: Calero and Sullivan introduce the Traveling Team Program, matching teams from the United States to play baseball in Puerto Rico.
August 2008: Calero and Sullivan client Yosandy Ibanez, RHP, signs a AA deal with the Los Angels Angels.
August 2008: Calero and Sullivan are featured in the Fosters Daily Democrat. To read the article, please click on:
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080810/GJSPORTS_01/458473631&SearchID=73326862930835
December 2008: Calero and Sullivan clients Angel Molina and Raul Gonzalez play for the Leones de Ponce, representing Puerto Rico in the Caribbean World Series.
December 2008: Calero and Sullivan take the Omaha Nebraska Prospect Team to Puerto Rico.
January 2009: Calero and Sullivan draft advisees Nick Freitas and Keli’I Zablan make the Baseball America Top College Prospect Lists.
January 2009: Calero and Sullivan draft advisees Freddie Cabrera and Raymond Fuentes are named to the high-profile Prospect League this coming summer. Past participants in the Prospect League include MLB greats such as Ryan Howard, Gary Gaetti, Joe Girardi, Mike Schmidt, Kirby Puckett and Jonathan Papelbon. http://www.rlc.edu/pressroom/newsstory.php?id=2217
June 2009: Calero and Sullivan Draft Advisee Nick Freitas is selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 33rd Round of the 2009 Draft.
July 2009: Calero and Sullivan client Nick Freitas signs with the Minnesota Twins.
