MLB's China development centers paying dividends

Gong follows a path blazed by Xu Guiyuan who came through the sister development center in Wuxi and signed for the Baltimore Orioles in 2016. While the Shenzhen native may not have uprooted trees with his .247 average across 81 at-bats in the Gulf League last season, he has shown promise and the hope is that with hard work, added experience, and a touch of luck Xu might become the first Chinese-born player to make the big leap.

Xu Guiyuan, nicknamed Itchy, plays for the Orioles' Gulf Coast League affiliate. He is the first graduate from China's MLB Development Center to sign a contract with a MLB club. [Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire]

"It's a milestone in that he's the first player from the Chinese mainland [MLB DCs]," Baltimore general manager Dan Duquette said. "We hope he's the first of many. This is the start of the process."

While Asia remains something of a niche market, Duquette is among a handful of insiders who anticipates further regional growth and is a believer in the potential latent in the Chinese market.

Another advocate is Rick Dell, MLB Asia's general manager of baseball development.

"Gong's signing with the Pirates once again attests to our successful combination of baseball and academic study at the MLB development center. Xu and Gong have gained the chance to play in the world's top baseball league, and set an example for other players in the academy."

Dell's counterpart Wang Peng in charge of marketing and media cooperation also estimated a surge in baseball's popularity in China.

MLB development center's baseball field in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province. The other two centers are located in Changzhou and Nanjing. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"Our MLB Play Ball Initiative has visited more than 100 primary schools in China and looks for talented kids between the ages of 12 and 14 for the three MLB development centers. I'm sure there will be more baseball prospects in China that progress from our system and head to the American minor leagues." Wang said.