Joris Bert

Joris Bert (born May 16, 1987 in Louviers, France) height: 5'10", weight :165 lbs [http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Joris_Bert] ), is a French baseball player who plays center field in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization . He bats left and throws left. [http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Joris_Bert] He is nicknamed "Frenchie" by his teammates. [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/29/sports/baseball/29dodgers.html]

He started playing baseball as a child when he arrived late to a soccer practice one day. He noticed some children playing baseball in the next field, and went to join them; he enjoyed the game and has been interested in the sport ever since then. [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/29/sports/baseball/29dodgers.html]

Educated in Louviers, and then at the "Institut national du sport et de l'éducation physique (INSEP)", Joris played on the field as both a pitcher and an outfielder. Arriving in Rouen after having improved his game with the Woodchucks of Bois-Guillaume of the Division Élite, he won the 2006 French baseball championship while playing for the Rouen Huskies. In July 2006, he was the second runner up for the "Europe Espoir" prize while playing with the French national team.

A quick runner with a strong arm, he moved to Texas in January 2007 to play ball for Frank Phillips College of the NJCAA. He led his team with in RBIs and stolen bases (42 in 49 games). Major League Baseball recruiters became interested in him during the 2007 draft, and on June 8 2007, he became the first French baseball player in history to be drafted by a Major League Baseball franchise. He was selected during the 19th round (596th overall) of the 2007 player draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

From June 12-16 2007, the played in the European Baseball Cup in Saint Marin with the Huskies, winning the second place European Championship.

His Minor League debut was on July 27 2007 with the Gulf Coast League. During this first game as a GCL Dodger, he scored one run against the GCL Marlins. [http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070727&content_id=2113261&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la]

As a member of the French national baseball team, he was selected to play in the Beijing tournament from August 15-24 2007 and he also played in the European Championship from September 5-16 2007. [http://www.ffbsc.fr/imgs/partenaires/EquipesFrance2007_Baseballsenior.pdf]

He was recruited with a starting bonus of 25 000 Euros, and now makes a monthly salary of 800 Euros. [http://www.humanite.fr/2007-06-26_Sports_Joris-Bert-a-l-assaut-de-l-Amerique]

Joris had visa problems upon arrival in the US, but has able to play in the Gulf Coast League. He has quickly adapted to the new culture; he speaks fluent Spanish, and has integrated well with his international teammates. The Dodgers expect action from him, and he is rapidly learning the finer points of hitting. According to a New York Times report, his parents have not come to see him play in the US, "They don't understand", he says. [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/29/sports/baseball/29dodgers.html]

ources

"This article draws heavily on the article in the French-language Wikipedia, which was accessed in the version of September 5, 2008.

sources quoted here are also quoted in the French Wikipedia article of the same name

References