Yuriorkis Gamboa Jr is looking to bring his family name back to the forefront, but in another sport. The son of the the one-time world champion boxer is looking to sign with a major league ballclub. The 15-year-old outfielder is currently training at the TBT Baseball Academy in the Dominican Republic.
The native of Guantánamo, Cuba is trained by Reinier Orozco, a renowned coach within the academy training circuit. Coach Orozco has developed plenty of MLB talent, Andy Ibáñez being one of the big names he developed.
The left-handed hitting Gamboa stands a little over six feet and weighs 165 pounds, a good size for his age. He also makes good contact and runs well. Although he has not been seen by many teams yet, expect to make an impact within this upcoming year.
What have you worked on the most during your time here at the academy?
Hitting, fielding, and also my running.
Is there anything you’ve worked on that you want to improve?
Right now, I want to improve my throwing. While it’s not bad, I want to improve my arm strength.
With your dad being a famous boxer, how did you get into baseball?
It’s a sport I really liked from the moment I saw it, and I truly wanted to use my talent to play this sport.
Have you had any tryouts with teams?
No.
When are you eligible to try out with teams?
Hopefully soon, this month.
Do you have any goals for the rest of your time at this academy?
Yes, right now my main goal is to sign with an MLB team.
When are you eligible to sign?
January 15, 2027.
What positions do you play?
I play outfield. Center field, right field, and left field.
Which position do you feel most comfortable in?
Mostly in centerfield.