Spotlight
Crossing the Ocean to Pursue Baseball and College Dreams
Growing up playing baseball in his hometown of Dajabón, Dominican Republic, Marcelino Leonardo Jr. (‘26) followed a dream of playing professional baseball to the United States, where he currently plays for Southern Virginia University and studies business.
“Baseball has always been part of my life and who I am,” said Leonardo, who has been the starting third baseman at Southern Virginia for two seasons. “Growing up in the Dominican, the sport is what brings you happiness. It is pretty much everything for the kids, especially during my time, because there wasn’t as much technology around. If you wanted to have fun with your friends, you went out and played baseball.”
Baseball was not only a source of childhood fun, but also a serious career goal for Leonardo, who plans on becoming a professional baseball player to help his family have a better life. After meeting several baseball players from Brigham Young University at an Orioles showcase in the Dominican Republic, Leonardo was introduced to the idea of college baseball and later traveled to the States to turn that idea into a reality.
During his first year, Leonardo was presented with an opportunity to pursue a professional career in baseball but turned it down to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, having seen the power of the gospel after joining the Church with his family as a child.
“Our lives completely changed after becoming members of the Church,” Leonardo explained, who also learned to speak English by reading the Book of Mormon. “It was like the switch from being a complainer to being a solution maker. We asked ourselves, ‘What are we going to do to become better people and feel more of that love, and keep progressing step by step?’”
After serving his mission in Baltimore, Maryland, Leonardo lived in the Dominican Republic for several years due to covid and visa issues before returning to the States, where he attended Salt Lake Community College. There he learned about Southern Virginia University and met with the baseball coach and several players shortly before the 2022 winter break. He decided it was a good fit and registered for classes just three days before the spring semester started.
“I played baseball all my life but I’ve never played in an environment in which most of the guys were all return missionaries,” shared Leonardo. “The baseball players here have that drive and that spirit that turns them into really good players. It doesn’t matter if it’s raining, they’re still going to get the work in and make something happen. I love that because that’s what drives me. I’m going to be consistent with my goals, and I’m going chase after my dreams.”
A business major, Leonardo is also the baseball representative for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, where they discuss the NCAA regulations at the school and lead community service projects.
“There’s a very small percentage of kids in the Dominican Republic who even graduate high school and go to college,” said Leonardo. “Looking back now, it makes me feel more grateful and motivates me to work harder to graduate, and I really wanted to say, ‘Thank you, Heavenly Father, for giving me the chance to be here and making this dream a possibility.”