Glimmerubro It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

WillSushyMedia This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

Nicole I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

Monique One of those movie experiences that is so good it makes you realize you've been grading everything else on a curve.

sbb6592 Is this a joke? Or better yet, is it an example of more MLB collusion like the kind you will see in this well made documentary. Maybe you think I am writing this review with bias as I have just made accusations of collusion and bashed the MLB but all I can say is this is a must watch for a baseball fan, or anyone interested in the business of sports. As you may have heard it follows the lives of two prospects and like a good documentary remains impartial and looks only for facts, and let the narratives play themselves out. They didn't go to the Dominican and just say hey lets shoot a movie about kids playing ball and packed up their shi* and left, they were there for over a year working hard and getting the most honest product they could. Watch this film, phenomenal work, it starts a bit slow as a point of emphasis but you can't stop watching once you get to about 15 minutes in. Please enjoy this extraordinary title and help get its absurdly low rating up to where it belongs. -B

jdesando "It's like when you go and harvest the land, you put the seed in . . . water it . . . and when it grows, you sell it." TrainerBaseball is a simple sport when compared with the complex plays of football or the manic motion of soccer. Ballplayer: Pelotero gives an inside look at the complexity of Major League Baseball's signing 16 year-old players from the Dominican Republic from the point of view of the young players.Jean Carlos Batista and Miguel Angel Sano are hot prospects turning 16 in time to qualify for the July 2 draft in the Dominican Republic. That they are gifted is certified by the number of teams looking carefully at the prospects.The documentary shifts to Angel as MLB is investigating his age, suspecting he may be older than the prime of 16. Because of the poor record keeping in the republic and some notorious faking, the accurate age is the defining issue of this suspenseful doc.While millions of dollars can be involved in the bonus for signing, to sign older than 16 means a decrease in money. Since these boys are coming from poverty, these bonuses are their hopes for elevating their families. Although both are playing pro ball now, their situation in the film as they approach July 2 concentrates on the demands of the leagues and the honesty of the boys' handlers. Ballplayer is one of the best documentaries ever about baseball at its most basic. The filmmakers allow everyone involved to voice their opinions while much of the time they're exposing their ambition or showing their ignorance. For the young recruits, no romantic thoughts about the pursuit of excellence are present—just thoughts of money.Fascinating stuff and the national anthem hasn't yet played!

jft1155 This is an extremely interesting film that is, at times, riveting. Ballplayer: Pelotero offers fascinating insight into what baseball means to children growing up in the Dominican Republic. In this incredibly poor county, there are few ways out of poverty. For the boys that enter into the Dominican baseball farms, baseball offers a way out for them and their families. Unfortunately, many do not make it. These kids are left without an education and thus little chance for a better life. Ballplayer: Pelotero is in many ways an indictment of the how the MLB association treats these poor and desperate kids. I highly recommend this excellent film!

soncoman The MLB All-Star break is upon us, so those of you needing a baseball fix should check out "Ballplayer: Pelotero," a new documentary now in release. And much like the American League in last night's game, the whole MLB system takes a beating in this film.To paraphrase a famous quote, baseball players are like sausage. You love 'em, but you wouldn't want to see them being made. "Ballplayer: Pelotero" takes us to the MLB sausage factory that is the Dominican Republic. We are introduced to two Dominican youth, Jean Carlos Batista and Miguel Angel Sano, who are the year's two hottest prospects. These talented and personable young men have placed their and their families' entire futures on the hopes of being signed to a major league contract and landing a big signing bonus. It is very disconcerting to hear these impoverished youth bandy about million dollar figures and their dreams of buying a new home for their mothers, but the reality is that, for the rare few, it does happen. So what's the greatest obstacle they must face in achieving their dreams? Their age.You see, it's all about being sixteen, the ridiculously low age that MLB has set as the threshold age for signing with a team. Some of these kids have been working with Dominican trainers since they were really young in the hopes of being able to showcase their talents by the time they hit sixteen. Signing at that age leads to the biggest money. Each year over the age of sixteen can cut your financial reward by 50% or more, so it's really important to be able to prove you're sixteen. That can be tough in a third-world country. It also leads to fraud and corruption.After impressing the MLB scouts at official MLB training camps, questions are raised about Batista's and Sano's ages. The investigative process begins. Then things really get interesting. Who's doing the questioning? What's their motivation? Where's the evidence one way or another? I suspect MLB wanted nothing to do with this documentary, so we really only get to see things from the boys', their families', and their trainers' perspectives. That's a good thing, actually, as it helps the audience to have a better appreciation of their frustrations and anxieties. Will they be 'cleared?' If they are, how big will their offers be?"Ballplayer: Pelotero" rips the casing off of Major League Baseball's Dominican farm system for all to see. Will anybody care? The next time you're at the ballpark, try and remember that the Brat you're eating wasn't the only meat to be ground up for your enjoyment that day.www.worstshowontheweb.com