At the MLB Players Trust Gala in Phoenix, Sports Philanthropy Network’s Roy Kessel interviews Jay Quinn, founder of the Baseball Island Foundation in the Dominican Republic. Quinn discusses his journey from U.S. college baseball to creating a program that combines sports and education, providing free training, academic support, and resources to Dominican youth. Supported by MLB players and philanthropists, the initiative aims to transform youth baseball development in the country.
JAY QUINN
Jay Quinn is the founder and director of the Baseball Island Foundation, an organization dedicated to transforming youth baseball development in the Dominican Republic. Originally from New York City, Quinn played Division I college baseball at George Washington University and later coached at Columbia University. His international coaching experience with Major League Baseball Europe and Brazil led him to the Dominican Republic, where he witnessed the unique challenges young players face.
Driven by a passion for both baseball and education, Quinn established the Baseball Island Foundation to bridge the gap between sports and academics. Unlike traditional Dominican baseball programs, his initiative ensures that young athletes receive free training, academic support, and life skills education – empowering them beyond the sport. Players must attend school and supplemental classes to remain in the program, creating a sustainable pathway to success whether they turn pro or pursue other careers.
Under Quinn’s leadership, the foundation has garnered support from MLB players, philanthropic organizations, and sponsors, helping provide essential resources like equipment, nutrition, healthcare, and college prep. His vision extends beyond a single program – he aims to reshape youth baseball culture across the Dominican Republic, ensuring that education and opportunity become as fundamental as the game itself.
BASEBALL ISLAND
The Baseball Island Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of young baseball players in the Dominican Republic by integrating education, life skills, and athletic development. Unlike traditional baseball programs in the country, which often prioritize professional contracts over academics, Baseball Island ensures that student-athletes receive structured education, English lessons, career guidance, and personal development support alongside high-level baseball training. The organization believes that baseball should be a tool for long-term success, not just a short-term pursuit.
Founded by Jay Quinn, a former college player and coach with experience in MLB Europe and Brazil, the foundation was created to address the challenges young Dominican athletes face – limited access to education, financial hardships, and an intense pressure to sign professional contracts at an early age. Through its academics-first approach, the program provides free training, meals, healthcare, and essential resources, ensuring that players have pathways to college scholarships, professional baseball, or careers beyond the sport.
With support from MLB players, philanthropic organizations, and corporate sponsors, Baseball Island continues to expand its impact, helping more young athletes build sustainable futures. The foundation’s ultimate vision is to reshape youth baseball culture across the Dominican Republic, promoting a model where education and opportunity are just as valuable as talent on the field.
WATCH THE INTERVIEW HERE
0:00-0:07 – Roy Kessel from Sports Philanthropy Network welcomes viewers to the MLB Players Trust Gala in Phoenix, Arizona, and introduces special guest Jay Quinn.
0:17-0:30 – Quinn, founder of the Baseball Island Foundation in the Dominican Republic, explains that his organization addresses unique challenges in Dominican baseball, particularly the lack of connection between sports and education.
1:00-1:23 – Originally from New York City, Quinn played Division I baseball at George Washington University, coached at Columbia, and gained international experience in MLB Europe and Brazil before falling in love with Dominican baseball culture.
2:30-3:02 – He describes the difficult conditions young players face in the Dominican Republic, including walking miles to practice, lack of equipment, and financial struggles, with many forced to choose between food and paying their coaches.
3:40-4:06 – The foundation is the only program in the country that requires players to stay in school and take additional classes (English, math, sports psychology) to participate in baseball training.
4:41-5:09 – Quinn emphasizes that his goal is to help players develop as people, ensuring that even if they don’t make it as professionals, they have education and career opportunities.
6:06-6:19 – To combat exploitation, he spent two years in the Dominican Republic before launching the program to ensure the right coaches and mentors were involved.
7:32-8:06 – The foundation provides high-level training, strength conditioning, and community engagement, preparing players for a college-level workload while maintaining academic excellence.
8:23-8:56 – With support from the MLB Players Trust, the Dale Murphy Foundation, and professional players, the program is expanding, offering scholarship support for Dominican athletes to attend U.S. colleges.
9:28-10:06 – Quinn’s vision is to spread this education-based baseball model across the Dominican Republic, ensuring that every young athlete has access to both baseball and a brighter future.
