The International Baseball Association (IBA), with headquarters in California, has a mission of promoting the growth of baseball throughout the world, through the establishment of baseball academies to train and educate young players.

IBA's first academy will be built in Nicaragua. IBA will work with its subsidiary, International Baseball Academies--Central America (IBACA) to construct a state-of-the-art facility, which will provide participants with expert baseball instruction, as well as educational and vocational training. The academy will attract players from throughout Central America.

IBA has future plans to construct baseball academies in other parts of the world.

Baseball is the national sport of Nicaragua and the passion for the game is unrivaled in the region. Baseball facilities in the country are limited, and with the construction of the academy, IBA views Nicaragua as having the potential to become the next Dominican Republic, in terms of providing talent to professional baseball leagues.

IBA will announce its plans at a press conference in Managua, on December 17. IBA Board members Reggie Smith, Dave Stewart, Brad Lesley, Bob Oettinger, Joseph Ryan and Roger Keeling will discuss plans for the academy and unveil artist renderings of the facility. Among the dignitaries expected to attend are US Ambassador to Nicaragua Robert Callahan;  Marlon Torres, Minister of Sports;  Adolfo Marenco, Commissioner of Baseball (FENIBA);  and Javier Chamorro, PRO Nicaragua.