Unlike its island neighbors Cuba and the Dominican Republic, Jamaica is not known as a baseball powerhouse. In fact, more Jamaicans have competed on their nation’s Olympic bobsled team than joined Major League Baseball.

Enter Wareham native and baseball lifer Ed Rose.

Stealing a line from the classic film “Field of Dreams,” Rose said if he builds a baseball complex in that country, people will come.

Twenty-two years ago, Rose first arrived in Jamaica, where is wife is originally from, and saw some potential in the island’s children. At the time, cricket and soccer dominated sports on the island.

“I fell in the love with the athletes there. They have a God-given talent in Jamaica for baseball,” said Rose who now lives in Florida.

A former member of the Red Sox and Wareham Gatemen and European league ballplayer, Rose had traveled the world at that point, visiting Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Spain and Germany among other places.

He said the Jamaican’s player raw talent was inspiring.

“I feel Jamaica has more potential than any of those countries,” he said. “Their talent hasn’t been developed, it’s untapped…Jamaicans are some of the best runners in the world and their hand-eye coordination is staggering.”

As a Wareham Little League player, he was sent on the coaching path by his mentor, Johnny Decas. Decas' encouragement stuck with Rose for a long time.

In 1967, Decas gave Rose, who was 12, the scorebook from his team’s last four seasons. During that stretch, the team won three championships. Written on the scorebook was a note that Rose recently shared with one of the teams he coaches at Weston Christian Academy in Florida.

“He saw things in me that I didn’t see in myself,” said Rose. “I have to give him credit, he helped me go on to work with and teach thousands of kids and build their character.”

In Jamaica, Rose gives workshops each year through his own B.E.S.T. Baseball Academy.

Through the years, his efforts have made an impact. Starting this year, the Jamaican government mandated that baseball be part of the nation’s physical education curriculum.

Rose said he hopes to have a baseball facility, complete with fencing, dugouts and stands, built in Mandeville, Jamaica to help the sport continue to grow.

Ultimately, he said his mission is to give back to a sport that afforded him so many opportunities.

“My ministry is baseball,” said Rose. “My passion is baseball.”

For more information on Rose and the B.E.S.T. Baseball Academy, visit www.bestbaseball academy.com.