![\"World](\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_254,w_2556,h_1437\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/GettyImages\/mmsport\/11\/01jjtjg8fjq83xxkmjbj.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAs the popularity of baseball continues to grow around the world, the talent from numerous other countries has become more and more prevalent.<\/p>\n
At least\u00a026 different countries and territories\u00a0were represented in Major League Baseball during the 2024 season as baseball truly becomes a global game.<\/p>\n
One of the goals Mike Elias has set for the Baltimore Orioles was to expand the franchise into the international market.<\/p>\n
Several years ago the Orioles dove into the market and began placing more emphasis in Central America.<\/p>\n
The signing of Samuel Basallo out of the Dominican Republic was just the start of things to come as the Orioles farm system has been flooded with international talent, to include nearly half of their top 30 prospects.<\/p>\n
The Birds built a training facility and enlisted the help of former Orioles Melvin Mora, Ubaldo Jimenez and Vladimir Guerrero Sr. to expand their presence in Latin America.<\/p>\n
Now that they’re firmly established in that region, the O’s are beginning to tap into a different market.<\/p>\n
When the Orioles signed\u00a0Tomoyuki Sugano\u00a0from Japan, he became just the third Japanese player in Orioles history after Koji Uehara and Shintaro Fujinami.<\/p>\n
But this could be just the beginning. As the Birds potentially look for a toe hold in the Asian market, they have brought in a secret weapon to help them. A guy with some insider information.<\/p>\n
The Orioles will rely on newly minted special advisor Adam Jones for help with extending into Japan<\/h2>\n
Earlier this week the Orioles announced that\u00a0Adam Jones\u00a0would be rejoining the franchise as a special advisor to GM Mike Elias and community ambassador.<\/p>\n
Even though the new role wasn’t official until January 27, Elias had reportedly already sought out Jones’s advise.<\/p>\n