Passport Prospects: Xander Bogaerts Humble Aruban shortstop proud to put his island on the map http://0rz.tw/1oe3Q Just two months removed from being a teenager, Xander Bogaerts speaks with fondness about growing up in Aruba, almost as if his childhood ended days ago. 两个月前才成年的Xander Bogaerts很开心的谈到他在Aruba的成长经验，就像是他的童年 在几天前才结束一样。 It's easy to see why. Born and raised in San Nicolaas, Bogaerts has spent most of his life a literal stone's throw from the beach on a Caribbean island where the temperature hovers in the low- to mid-80s year-round. 不难看出为什麽。Bogaerts在San Nicolaas出生并在那里成长，简单形容的话，他在加勒 比海的海滩上过着丢石子的生活。(那里全年温度大概在摄氏26~30度之间震荡) In many ways, the Red Sox's top prospect had the best of everything growing up. 就很多方面来说，红袜的顶级新秀拥有最棒的成长环境。 Twelve miles southeast of Oranjestad, the nation's capital and largest city, San Nicolaas is convenient but just far enough away from the major tourist spots to be a quiet community. San Nicolaas位於Aruba首都(同时也是最大城)Oranjestad东南方12哩，要到首都很方便 ，但对於观光客来说有点麻烦，因此，San Nicolaas是个静谧的地方。 You could make the case that San Nicolaas -- with a population of around 22,000 -- has California's sandy beaches and Florida's climate but no traffic. 你可以把San Nicolaas想像为拥有加州沙滩和佛罗里达的气候、22,000人但没有繁忙交通 的地方。 "It's very nice, quiet," Bogaerts said. "Oranjestad is the main part of Aruba -- the parties, the shops and all the nice stuff is on that side. But I live in a quiet place near the beach. It's not that big. It's on the opposite side from the town where everything is, opposite where all the tourists are." Bogaerts：「那个地方很不错，非常的安静。Oranjestad是Aruba重要的城市，派对、船 只之类的都在那个地方。不过我住在附近的海边，那个地方不大，也很安静─和城市的所 有事物完全相反，和那个挤满观光客的地方完全不一样。」 Bogaerts played several sports growing up, including soccer, basketball and volleyball. Bogaerts参与过很多种运动，像是足球、篮球和排球。 "I was an active kid, I liked to move around," he said. "I was never a lazy kid. I liked playing all of the other sports as a hobby, but I was good at baseball. Baseball was the real deal." 「我是一个很好动的小孩，我喜欢到处活动。我完全不懒惰，我把运动当作嗜好，但是我 真的很会打棒球，棒球这部份可真不是开玩笑的。」 Bogaerts was introduced to the sport when he was 4 or 5 years old, playing catch with his twin brother, Jair, and his uncle, Glenroy, a local baseball coach, in the backyard of his grandmother's house. Bogaerts大概从四、五岁开始接触棒球，和他的双胞胎兄弟Jair跟担任当地棒球教练的叔 叔Glenroy在祖母家的後院玩传接球。 "Before any teams or anything, it was my uncle who played with me and Jair from a young age," he recalled. "I remember learning the basics of baseball and learning how to play the game. [Glenroy] wasn't a professional coach or anything, but he taught us a lot about playing the game the right way. Bogaerts回想当时：「在加入任何球队之前都是我叔叔、Jair跟我一起打棒球。我那时学 习棒球的基础以及打比赛的方法。叔叔不是专业的教练，但是他敎我们很多打棒球的正确 观念。」 "I just fell in love with the game with my twin brother. As we got older, we started participating in away tournaments -- Puerto Rico, Panama, Dominica, Curacao. But the most important thing in my family was going to school and getting an education. I had to stay in school before I signed. It was a big priority and I had to try to balance both of them." 「我跟Jair一起爱上棒球比赛。我们长大之後四处征战打锦标赛，波多黎各、巴拿马、 多明尼加、库拉索群岛等等。但是家族里最重视的是受教育，因此在我签约之前都得待在 学校。这是很重要的事情，所以我必须努力的找到平衡点。」 The 20-year-old can't help but think back to those days when he's back in San Nicolaas in the offseason. His mother, Sandra Brown, still lives in the four-bedroom home in which Bogaerts grew up. Bogaerts不禁想起他在休赛期重回San Nicolaas的时光。他的妈妈Sandra Brown依然住在 Bogaerts从小住的那栋四间卧室房子。 Bogaerts did well in school, especially math, and as his baseball skills developed, he started to help the other players. He played on dirt fields between the ages of 9-12 and helped lead his team to several Latin American tournaments, where it competed for a spot in the Little League World Series. In 2010, Aruba won the Senior League World Series in Bangor, Maine, the first such honor for the island nation. Bogaerts在校表现优良，尤其是数学很棒。而在他的棒球技巧进步之後，他还开始帮助 其他球员。Bogaerts在9-12岁之间都在沙土球场打球，而他也会带领球队征战拉丁美洲的 锦标赛，试图打进少棒联盟的世界大赛。2010年，Aruba在国际青少棒联盟中力抗群雄， 在缅因州拿下Aruba史上第一座冠军。 "When you became champions of Aruba, you go off to play in the Latin American tournament. The winner from that goes to Williamsport to represent the Latin American teams," Bogaerts explained. "Growing up, I went to most of the Latin American tournaments and the Pan-American tournaments. 「当你成为Aruba的冠军，你就要去打拉丁美洲的锦标赛。赢家可以成为拉丁美洲队，前 进威廉波特少棒赛。在成长期间，我参加过大部分的拉丁美洲锦标赛和泛美锦标赛。」 "It was nice. You met a lot of good players from other countries. I played against [Jurickson] Profar from Curacao and a few guys that have signed in professional ball." 「这很棒，你可以认识其他国家的好球员。我对决过库拉索的Jurickson Profar跟一些 打进职业棒球界的球员。」 Scouts began tracking Xander and Jair when they were around 15, no one more than the Red Sox's Mike Lord, an Aruba-based international cross-checker. But Xander almost missed his big chance to leave a lasting impression when the Red Sox held tryouts not far from his home. 球探从Bogaerts兄弟15岁时就开始注意他们。其中最关注他们的是在Aruba活动的红袜球 探Mike Lord。但是Bogaerts差一点就在家乡的附近的小试验中错失惊艳球探的机会。 "I remember, when the Red Sox came here for their tryout, I was at home with the chicken pox," he said. "I was in my bed at home and my brother called me and told me to come. I didn't think I would be able to go out, but I called my mom and asked her if I was allowed to and she eventually said I could. 「当红袜找我去试验时，我却因为水痘躺在家里。Jair打电话叫我去参加，不过我不认为 我可以出去。我打电话问妈妈能不能出去，而她也终於答应了。」 "There were other teams, but the Red Sox were pursuing me aggressively. They were the most interested ones. They liked me and my brother and then they came back in two weeks and we got the deal done." 「那里也有其他队的球探，但是红袜对我最有兴趣。他们喜欢我们兄弟俩，在两个礼拜 後就跑回来签我们。」 The twins signed with the Red Sox on Aug. 29, 2009. Xander, an infielder, got a $410,000 bonus, while Jair, a stocky catcher, received around $180,000. For Xander, the opportunity to play in the same organization with his brother made the decision a no-brainer. 两兄弟都在2009年8月29日签约。Xander拿下$410K签约金；结实的捕手Jair则是拿了$180K 。能和Jair一起打球的机会对Xander来说完全不用想就签下去了。 "I wanted to play baseball and be a Major League player one day, but I liked school and I thought about becoming a teacher or being involved in sports," said Xander, who delayed his professional debut until he graduated from high school. "But baseball for me was always the first option." 因为学业延迟了处女秀的Bogaerts表示：「我想打棒球，希望有一天能站上大联盟，不过 我也喜欢学校，想着或许有一天会成为老师或是从事跟体育有关的工作。但是棒球永远是 我的首选。」 Bogaerts debuted in the Dominican Summer League on June 6, 2010 and made his first start at shortstop two days later. Before the end of the month, he and Jair were sharing the same clubhouse. 2010年6月6日，Bogaerts终於在DSL豋场，两天後首次镇守游击。而在六月底时，Jair也 加入DSL的阵容之中。 For Bogaerts, who speaks English, Spanish, Dutch and Papiamento -- an Aruban Creole language -- the transition appeared almost effortless. The hardest part was leaving home. 对於精通四国语言(英、西、荷、帕皮阿门托语，Aruba的混合语)的Bogaerts来说，语言 转变并不困难。真正困难的是离家。 "It was difficult because I'd always been there with my mom and my brother, but I always wanted to play baseball," he said. "It took some time to get used to. 「因为我一直都和妈妈、兄弟住在一起，所以很困难。但是我一直想打棒球。」 「我花了一点时间适应。」 "[People back home] think that when you sign with a team, you go straight to the Major Leagues, they don't know the process. You have to explain the process of the Minor Leagues, starting at the lower levels and making your way up. Everyone thinks it's direct to the Major Leagues, it's crazy. When I signed, I didn't even know what levels there were in the organization." 「家乡很多人都以为球队签下你之後你就直接站上大联盟了，他们并不清楚流程。你得和 他们解释你必须先打小联盟，一路从低阶打上去才能上大联盟。大家都以为签约等於直升 大联盟，这蛮扯的。不过当我签约时，我根本搞不清楚球队里有哪些层级。」 That first taste of pro ball agreed with Xander, who hit a team-high .314 with three homers, seven doubles and five triples in 63 games. He also led the squad with 42 RBIs, scored 39 runs and was named the Red Sox's Latin Program Player of the Year. Bogaerts的第一个球季很棒，在63场比赛之内打出全队最高的.314外带三支全垒打、五支 三垒安打和七支二垒安打。他同时拿下全队最高的42打点、39分，拿下该年度红袜小联盟 最佳的拉丁美洲球员。 While Jair hit .170 in 46 games and repeated the DSL in 2011, Xander's star was on the rise. He moved up to Class A Greenville in June 2011 and, even though he appeared in only 72 games, finished third on the club with 16 homers. Bogaert led all full-time players with a .509 slugging percentage and tied for fourth with 45 RBIs. 2011年，当Jair在DSL的46场比赛中只打.170时，Xander这颗闪耀之星已经渐渐升起。他 在2011年六月升上1A的Greenville，在仅仅72场比赛中就打出红袜农场第三高的16支全 垒打，在非短期赛球员中，45打点名列第四，.509的长打率更是名列第一。 "Greenville was another world," he said. "The quality level of baseball in Aruba isn't even close to baseball in America. Greenville was a nice town. It's really nice and the field was extremely nice. But I'm a guy that likes to stay home and not be on the road that much. I don't really go out that much, I like staying home and cleaning the house and working out." 「Greenville是一个完全不同的世界，Aruba的棒球水准完全比不上美国。Greenville是 一个很棒的小城市，那里的球场也很棒。不过我不喜欢到处跑，比较喜欢待在家里打扫 屋子或是进行训练。」 MiLB.com named him an Organization All-Star following the season and Bogaerts' entered 2012 as the No. 3 prospect in the system behind Will Middlebrooks and Bryce Brentz. MiLB.com在2012年球季前将Bogaerts列为红袜农场全明星队，并且将他选为新秀排行榜第 三名。(仅次於Middlebrooks和Bryce Brentz) The Red Sox bumped Bogaerts up to Class A Advanced Salem, where he did not disappoint. He batted .302 with 15 homers and 64 RBIs in 104 games and was named a Carolina League midseason All-Star. 红袜让Bogaerts升等到高阶A的Salem打怪，她也没让球团失望。在104场比赛中打出.302 、15轰和64打点，成为Carolina League的全明星队。 Bogaerts played for the World team at the All-Star Futures Game in Kansas City, then earned a promotion to Double-A Portland in early August. In 23 Eastern League games, he collected five homers and 17 RBIs, giving him career highs of 20 homers and 81 RBIs. He recorded a .307/.373/.523 line across two levels and was named Topps' Carolina League Player of the Year. Bogaerts入选未来之星明星队，在堪萨斯对抗美国队。接着在八月初获得升上2A的机会， 在23场比赛中打出五发全垒打和17打点，整季打出生涯新高的20轰、81打点，也缴出了 .307/.373/.523的好成绩，获选为Carolina League Player of the Year。 "It went even better than I expected," Bogaerts said. "I didn't expect to hit that many home runs. But I worked hard in the offseason and during the season, and I like to play the game." 「这比我预期的还要好，我没想到我会打那麽多全垒打。不过不论是球季中还是休赛期， 我都很努力练习。我也很爱比赛。」 For Bogaerts, reaching the Majors would help realize a lifelong goal. 对Bogaerts来说，站上大联盟能帮助他达成一生梦想。 "It's something that I won't be able to believe until I'm in the batter's box getting my first at-bat," he said. "It will be something unbelievable because I've played my whole career ... trying to become one of those Major League players. You have idols like Derek Jeter and Hanley [Ramirez] and those guys, you want to be one of them. It will be crazy when I have an opportunity to join them." 「在我站上大联盟的打击区之前，我没有办法相信一切。那会成为难以相信的事情，因为 我整个生涯都在努力跻升大联盟。你会想加入偶像之列，像是Jeter或是Hanley Ramirez 等人。当我有机会加入他们时，一切会变的很疯狂。」 When it comes to Aruban Major Leaguers, the list is a pretty short one. 说到Aruba出身的大联盟球员，还真的不是很多。 Outfielder Gene Kingsale became the first player from the island to appear in a big league game when he debuted for the Orioles on Sept. 3, 1996. He ended up batting .251 over a seven-year career that included stints with the Mariners, Padres and Tigers. 外野手Gene Kingsale是大联盟史上第一位Aruba球员，在1996年9月3日登上大联盟。他在 水手、教士和老虎的七年生涯中打击率.251。 Five days after Kingsale made his debut, the Orioles gave fellow Aruban Calvin Maduro his first start. And in 1998, Sidney Ponson became the third and most famous player from Aruba when he pitched for Baltimore. Kingsale登场的五天之後，金莺给Calvin Maduro在大联盟的先发机会。1998年，Sidney Ponson是第三位，也是Aruba史上最出名的球员。当时他是效力於金莺的投手。 Ponson compiled a 91-113 record over a 12-year career with the Giants, Cardinals, Yankees, Twins, Royals and Rangers. 在12年的生涯之中，Ponson缴出91胜、113败的成绩。生涯还待过巨人、红雀、洋基、双 城、皇家和游骑兵。 Bogaerts is hoping to become the fourth player on the list, although he said he's too young and inexperienced to consider himself a baseball ambassador. Bogaerts希望他能成为第四位站上大联盟的Aruba球员，不过他本人表示他还很年轻，缺 乏经验，所以不会把自己想成棒球大使之类的人。 "I'm quiet, humble, just the same as I was back home. I don't want to change anything," he said. "I try to help people in Aruba approach the game the right way. I will always be humble and be myself. I can't be too high on myself just because I got signed. 「我很安静、谦卑，就像是在家乡的我一样，我不想改变任何事情。我试着帮助家乡的人 能有更正确的方式接触棒球比赛。我永远会是一个谦卑的人。我不能只因为签了约就过度 兴奋。」 "That's what they teach you at home growing up, the type of family I was in. I just want to stick with it. I wouldn't go up to a person and just tell them I'm a professional baseball player and that I signed with the Boston Red Sox. ... I guess if people know me, they know me. If not, hopefully they will hear about me some day." 「这就是家里敎我的，这就是我们家的风格，我会谨守这一点。我不会去找一个人然後跟 他说我是一位职业棒球选手，我是红袜球员。如果他们知道我，那就是知道。如果不知道 ，希望他们未来会听到有关於我的事情。」 -- "HARD WORK BEATS TALENT WHEN TALENT FAILS TO WORK HARD." --

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