The Marlins are "among the few teams" in MLB "conducting Spanish classes for English speakers throughout the organization, from players to coaches to top executives," including CEO Derek Jeter, according to James Wagner of the N.Y. TIMES. Teaching Spanish is "part of a larger effort to help the Marlins better communicate with fans in Miami" in order to "repair the team’s fractured relationship with the community after years of losing, mismanagement and dwindling attendance." Jeter said, “If you don’t speak Spanish in Miami, there are certain places you go and can’t even order food. And if we’re going to preach it to our players, we should preach it to the front office.” This comes as Jeter has "called for an overhaul of the club’s player development program, including a focus on life skills -- from cooking to financial planning to language classes." The Marlins "tailored the Spanish classes for different groups’ needs," as classes are offered at "nearly every level of the organization but are mandatory only for Marlins players in the lowest levels of the minor leagues." Jeter "attends weekly 90-minute classes for the executive team." They "feature homework and quizzes, and teach relevant terminology, from common injuries to how to direct a Spanish-speaking fan to the stadium bathroom." In addition, Jeter said that he has a "private tutor twice a week" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/11).
