The Chicago White Sox training academy coaches were eagerly received over the weekend at the Field of Dreams and for the man who started their regular visit it was a source of great pride.

For Stuart Knox it was pleasing to see the White Sox make their annual pilgrimage south to the far warmer climes of Grand Cayman. Even though he got rolled over and returned to Toronto last year, missing the White Sox visit is something he ensured he did not do.

“This is the fifth year running and I’m pleased to see that the Cayman Islands Little League has kept this programme going with our kids and the kids from Chicago,” Knox said.

“The Chicago families go back and tell others how much their kids have learnt at this camp so they’re inspiring other families.

“The Stillmans have been here two years in a row. You can tell that if they’re coming back and back there’s something good in the programme.”

It was Knox and local mother Karen Wight who started the White Sox exchange in 2005.

She is from the Chicago area and found the academy for her two boys who were playing baseball in Cayman at the time. Wight and Knox, a huge baseball fan, decided to try to entice the White Sox down and against all odds they succeeded and become a permanent fixture.

Knox likes the fact that the White Sox are building a synergy here.

“Every time the coaches come here they keep their eyes on the talent, so yes, if one day somewhere a seven or eight-year-old gets a chance to continue to play this game and go to school and become a player, all the power to them. White Sox have always got their eyes open looking at our talent.

“We decided to ensure a ten to one ratio between trainers and kids, unlike up there where the ratio is more like 20-1. So the kids down here learn way more, including the Chicago kids. Plus the parents get a little sun tan!

“It’s an awesome legacy for the Cayman Islands. This should go on forever. There’s nowhere else you can get trained by a professional, affiliated team.

“That would be like someone bringing the Chicago Blackhawks or even the Bulls. Now that we have Camana Bay they’re talking about bringing down the Bulls to teach basketball. So this has just opened a huge can of potential for the Cayman athletes to give them some inspiration, become serious athletes, get some work ethics and change.”