NEWS

Michael Landestoy’s journey began in the Dominican Republic and has taken him all the way to Winchester for the summer. The rising sophomore from Texas Christian University is batting in the middle of the Royals’ lineup.

 

At Winchester, he is tied for the team lead in triples and tied for second in RBIs with 14 and walks with 14. He’s in third scoring 16 runs and amassing 27 hits and tied for third in doubles and home runs. Landestoy also has five stolen bases on the season.

 

Landestoy, a native of Santo Domingo, has grown up playing baseball in a very different sports culture.

In the Dominican Republic, there are no established high school leagues; instead players play in various competitive leagues.

 

“I played in the RBI League for two years (from age 14-16), parallel prospect league for the Mets academy, and also played for a month in the farm league for Villa Mella the summer before I left for TCU,” said Landestoy.

 

Awarded league MVP twice in the RBI League, Landestoy was invited to join the U-18 national team which plays in an international tournament. Due to school commitments and his father wanting him to continue to train in the Dominican Republic, he was unable to join the team.

 

Landestoy’s father, Rafael Landestoy, has been influential in his son’s athletic career. A former major leaguer for eight seasons from 1977-1984, Rafael Landestoy has also coached in both the majors and the minor league system. He currently works as the coordinator of player development of Latin America.

 

However strong his ties to the game, the younger Landestoy says he spent the school year focused on academics, spending Saturdays at the New York Mets baseball academy where his father worked.

Most of the time he devoted to the sport came over the summer. “During the summer is when I really dig in into baseball completely and play,” he said.

 

“Trying to get into college from the Dominican Republic was a challenge,” Landestoy said. “That’s why I had to make sure my academics were in-line and I was able to do that attending Saint George School, a private institution that expanded my chances to being accepted anywhere in the U.S. Balancing baseball and high-level academics was probably my greatest challenge, but I was able to get it done with the help and support of my parents.”

 

His focus on academics and his training paid off and he was invited to two Perfect Game events, the National Academic Showcase and the 2013 World Uncommitted Showcase, both high-profile events frequented by scouts. Landestoy says participating in these events added to his “baseball resume” and “really put my name out there and gave me credit and a certain reputation.”

 

The games were more than just resume-builders. Landestoy enjoyed the competition and gained a new perspective from the events. “It was also a lot of fun to compete against kids from all over the U.S., Caribbean, Europe and South America. When you play baseball in a Perfect Game event, it makes you realize the level of competition and how big the game of baseball really is.”

 

Landestoy had interest from several schools, but made his decision at a TCU baseball camp. “Late July, I was invited to one of Coach Schlossnagle’s camps and from the moment I walked on campus and stepped into Lupton Stadium, it was lights out. I fell in love with the place and the way they treat people there is unbelievable,” said Landestoy.

 

He explained further, “TCU was the best option for me. It took me a while to decide, but certain circumstances in other colleges just didn’t feel right. Apart from its amazing baseball program, TCU is a great place to learn, plus the Dallas/Fort Worth area is beautiful. I never thought I would end up in Texas. I thought I would end up in the east coast, but God always has a greater plan. Baseball in Texas is intense and I love the atmosphere and the fans that come out and watch baseball not caring about the terrible Texas heat. It’s been a blessing.”

 

Since attending TCU, Landestoy has noticed some differences in how the game is played in the United States. For example, Dominican players see baseball as a way “to provide for their families,” he said.

 

The other major difference he noticed was that the game is more about the individual as players are vying for a shot at college baseball or a professional league in the Dominican Republic. “In the US, the aspect of team is taught throughout college until you get to professional ball,” Landestoy said.

 

Now he is adjusting to the team comraderie that is such a big part of the American game. “That was one of the main things I had to adapt to, especially at TCU where one of our core elements is being selfless. You live, eat, take classes and spend most of your day with a group of guys and without team chemistry, especially in D-1 college baseball, you are not going to enjoy the game.”

 

After redshirting that first year, Landestoy is looking to expand his role at TCU. “After my redshirt year, my strength and pop is at a whole new level,” he said. This isn’t something that’s come to overnight, rather the product of his continued development and his advanced analysis of his game. “This summer, I'm working on improving my approach to the plate, executing my plan when I step into home, using my routines to focus and just improving as an all-around baseball player. Every time I play, I write down mental errors, my approaches that day and see going into the next day if I fix those errors. My mentality this summer has been how I could improve each day, whether it’s not missing my pitch, reading balls off the bat or executing good fundamental baseball.”

 

His father also instilled a routine in his son that he still practices to this day. “He always told me to keep it simple from hitting to fielding. ‘See the ball, hit the ball, catch the ball and throw the ball.’” The key is simplicity, Landestoy says. “It’s been such a part of my routine that I have those words written on my hat and before I step in the plate I forget everything and just say ‘see the ball hit the ball’ take my deep breath and I’m ready to go.”

 

Jim Schlossnagle, head coach at TCU, says that Landestoy’s background has contributed a strong work ethic. “He understands the value of practice and a daily commitment to improve. There's no doubt that he has a grasp on what a fundamental player is supposed to look like,” said Schlossnagle. “He is the consummate grinder; he truly comes to the field each day to get better.”

 

The most important thing Rafael Landestoy has taught his son is to love the game. “People ask me all the time if I feel pressured but when you have fun playing the game, what’s pressure?” said Landestoy.

 

-Michael Lynch

Photo by HaymarketJoePhotography.com