Right Men for the Job

Passion and pride have helped lift Raul Mondesi to heights unimagined by him, even in his dreams.

And helped him uplift others.

The star Dodger outfielder has traveled far quickly, but he hasn’t forgotten where his journey began. The driving forces in his life have helped him become one of baseball’s elite players, and Mondesi has generously shared his rewards with those less fortunate in his native Dominican Republic.

He begins this season more focused than ever, he said, and determined to do more in baseball and life.

“I have been very lucky,” he said. “I have a lot of things, and I have been able to do a lot for my family and friends, because of how I play baseball for the Dodgers.

“But I don’t think about what I did in the past, I think about what I have to do in the future. I think about how I can get better, about how I can work harder, because I haven’t done what I want to in this game.”

Although his work is unfinished, the early results have been impressive.

Last season, Mondesi became the first Dodger to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in a single season. He batted .310 with 30 home runs, 87 runs batted in and 32 stolen bases.

With 77 extra-base hits--including a team-leading 42 doubles--Mondesi broke the team record he’d set in 1996. And the right fielder, whose throwing arm is considered the best in the major leagues at his position by many scouts, won his second Gold Glove.

And none of that was unexpected.

Dodger officials have predicted stardom for Mondesi since the Campo Las Palmas alumnus made his major league debut in 1993. It didn’t take him long to validate their confidence, winning the rookie-of-the year award the following season and becoming an all-star in only his second full season.

In January, the Dodgers rewarded Mondesi with the richest deal in Dodger history. He signed a four-year, $36-million contract that could become a six-year, $60-million package if the club exercises two option years.

The four-year guaranteed portion of the deal ties Mondesi for the eighth-highest contract in baseball with Matt Williams of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Darryl Strawberry previously had the biggest contract in Dodger history, a $20.25-million deal in 1990.

But those who know Mondesi best say that wealth is only the result of how hard he plays.

Coach Manny Mota has watched Mondesi develop since he was a teenager in the Dominican Republic, and Mota understands what motivates his intense pupil.

“Raul plays the game the right way,” he said. “He plays the game from his heart, he plays with passion. When Raul is on the field, all he cares about is giving everything he has to win the game.

“And no one works harder than Raul, and no one cares more about playing for the Dodgers. Raul is very proud . . . about doing his job. That is why he so works hard. Money can’t make you work as hard as Raul does.”

Teammates often watch in amazement as Mondesi works out. He usually reports to spring training 10-15 pounds overweight, but sheds the fat rapidly by running for hours daily.

He enjoys seeing the stunned reactions of teammates who gather to watch him being weighed after a few days.

“No one but Mondy could do that,” pitcher Ramon Martinez said. “But Mondy works so hard at everything, nothing he does surprises me.”

Opponents are also well aware of his ability. Mondesi is among the topics of discussion in clubhouses across the major leagues.

“When I was with the [Colorado] Rockies, we used talk about Mondy before we played [the Dodgers],” second baseman Eric Young said. “We would always remind the outfielders to get the ball back into the infield fast, because Mondy would stretch singles into doubles and doubles into triples with the way he hustled. And you knew you couldn’t run on him.”

Home in His Heart

It pleases Mondesi that he has baseball’s respect. But the respect of the people in his homeland means more.

“That makes me feel good, when my teammates and other teams know I work hard, because you must have respect in this game,” he said. “But that’s not enough for me. That wouldn’t matter if I didn’t help people who needed help, if I didn’t try to give them a chance for something better.

“If you are lucky to have a lot, you must help others. You have to do that to be a good person.”

Mondesi is renowned and revered in the Dominican, as much for his generosity as his status as one of the best baseball players in a nation passionate about the game.

He sponsors numerous charities. He buys hundreds of toys for children during holidays, and provides meals for their families. Strangers often stop him in the streets to thank him for how he has helped them.

Shortstop Jose Vizcaino knows the importance of what Mondesi does. He also grew up in San Cristobal, and Vizcaino said his longtime friend has had a positive impact on many lives.

“Raul helps people, not only because he gives them money, but because they also know he really cares about them,” said Vizcaino, who rejoined the Dodgers in the off-season after having been traded in 1990.

“Anyone can give you money, but it doesn’t mean as much if they think you don’t really care about them. Raul cares about everyone, and he’s been able to do a lot of good things.”

Mondesi is proudest of the youth baseball league he sponsors for 500 children from 6 to 14. He supplies uniforms and equipment, and the league was recently renamed the Raul Mondesi League.

“That is so special for me, that they named it after me,” said Mondesi, who became emotional as he spoke.

“I played in that league, and now it’s named after me. All I want to do is help those kids, because a lot of them are from poor families, just like I was. I didn’t have anything when I grew up either. I couldn’t afford shoes or equipment, so I want those kids to have what I didn’t have.”

But he did have home support. Martina Avelino raised her seven children on her own in a tiny home. There weren’t many material possessions, and sometimes not enough food, but there was love.

“My mother worked so hard for us,” Mondesi said. “She worked all the jobs she could to make sure we ate, to make sure we had a place to sleep. I can’t forget that--that’s why I have to help people.”

Avelino is more pleased by her son’s compassion than his success.

“Nothing is more important than being a caring person,” she said through an interpreter. “The Lord has blessed Raul with this opportunity to help himself and others, and I am very proud that he wants to help. No mother could be prouder than I am, because Raul didn’t forget where he came from.”

Mondesi, 27, and his wife, Ada, have two sons and a daughter. He said that watching his children also inspires him to give.

“My kids are going to be taken care of,” Mondesi said. “Because I play baseball, they are always going to have everything they need. But there are other kids out there who aren’t as lucky. I just do whatever I can.”

But some worry that Mondesi might be too generous. He rarely denies requests for help.

Dodger Vice President Ralph Avila runs Campo Las Palmas, and he was responsible for signing Mondesi in 1988. Avila and Mota have been father figures to Mondesi, and they constantly remind him to be careful whom he chooses to support financially.

“I talk to Raul more about that than about baseball,” Avila said. “Raul’s only problem is that his heart is too big. He sees someone in trouble and he feels he needs to help them.”

And Mondesi has had similar conversations with his attorney, Jeff Moorad.

“The last thing I want to do is to curb his generosity toward people,” said Moorad, who negotiated Mondesi’s recent contract. “But as he’s grown up in the big leagues, he has realized that business is business and charity is charity. So I would just like him to be a little more sensitive to the advice of his financial advisors.”

Not that he has money troubles. Mondesi received a $2-million signing bonus, and he will make $5 million in 1998.

His salary escalates to $8.5 million in 1999, $9.5 million in 2000 and $11 million in 2001. The Dodgers hold options for 2002 and 2003 at salaries of $11 million and $13 million, respectively. If the option after the fourth year is exercised, the club can buy out the final year for $1 million.

“The Dodgers have done so much for me,” Mondesi said. “They have taken care of me, and now I have no more pressure on me. All I want to do now is go out and put up numbers for the Dodgers.”

Even though he was coming off his best season, Mondesi failed to drive in as many runs last year as the Dodgers would have liked. So he has room to improve.

“The way I look at it is, you have to try to give the fans a bargain for their dollar,” said all-star catcher Mike Piazza, expected to surpass Mondesi as the highest-paid Dodger with his next contract.

“I know that isn’t easy with the type of money we’re talking about, but you can always try to improve some part of your game to give the fans more. Mondy knows that.”

Manager Bill Russell said Mondesi has already expanded his role.

“Just things like encouraging Wilton [Guerrero] and helping him in the outfield this spring,” he said. “Mondy has been more vocal, and he’s taking more responsibility. He knows this isn’t just about picking up a paycheck.”

For Mondesi, it never has been.

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