The Cubs unveiled plans for their new baseball facility in the Dominican Republic Thursday.
The academy is the largest in the country and spans 50 acres. It will have four baseball fields (including one turf field), four covered batting cages and eight bullpens. It will also house and educate the players as two locker rooms, a weight room, a cafeteria and kitchen, two meeting rooms, a large classroom and a theatre and video room are included.
There is a dormitory on site that can fit up to 80 players and eight staff members.
The educational center -- which will place an emphasis on education, health and nutrition -- will teach English and Spanish to both players and staff members and will allow the players to earn a GED high school equivalent.
Chairman Tom Ricketts and his staff, who are in the Dominican Republic now, expect the academy to be completed in the city of La Gina in 12-18 months. It will be a year-round facility for minor leaguers, serving players from all over the world, including Mexico and Venezuela. Major league players can utilize the facilities during the offseason as well.