Buscone

A buscone is a term used in the Dominican Republic to refer to people who peddle young baseball players to scouts for teams from Major League Baseball. The word comes from the verb "buscar" which means to look for, to search; it traces its roots to "thief" in old Spanish pirate tales. Buscones identify promising players, train them (primarily in areas like running and hitting for power that impress scouts, rather than in actual game mechanics), and then pocket a share of the signing bonus, often about a quarter. Buscones are often criticized by MLB sources, including some scouts, but are considered part of the business of baseball in the Dominican Republic.