An oasis in southern Baní

Franco now lives in the southern part of Baní, where locals said he built a pair of mansions for himself and his parents near Palo Alto and Boca Canasta. This area is less than a 15-minute drive from where he grew up.

Unlike Franco’s hometown, the area’s wealthiest families and foreigners own homes and apartment buildings with pools, security cameras and lush ornamental trees. These are exclusive, residents-only neighborhoods near the Caribbean Sea.

The serenity is a world away from the constant hum of motorcycles that abound in the center of Baní and weave throughout the city, carrying one to four people at a time. Here, in Franco’s new home, residents get around via golf carts.

There are no vendors of mangoes and coconuts loudly selling their produce. Nor are there stray dogs sleeping in the middle of the streets. Instead, convenience stores (known as colmados) and shopping malls offer a wide variety of local and imported goods.

During the weekend nights, the backyards of mansions, illuminated with solar panel lights, come alive with family gatherings. On the terraces, friends gather to celebrate with the rhythm of bachata, a well-known music originating in the rural neighborhoods of the country.

Franco’s return visits to Villa Majega have been sporadic. Two days before Christmas, he took photos with the neighbors. He played baseball with them and handed out 4,000 Dominican pesos ($68), according to local kids.

One of those kids was Robert Valdez.

Robert, 10, plays every day, from 3-6, Monday to Saturday, usually with just one old, battered ball and a bat that he shares with his friends from the neighborhood. School isn’t something he thinks about much. He’s more focused on following in Franco’s footsteps, practicing hard in front of a wall, and getting better by hitting corncobs and small stones to sharpen his aim.

Like many kids from Villa Majega, Robert — a switch-hitter like Franco — dreams of being an MLB player.

“I want to be a champion,” he said.