Apr 18, 2009 4:45 PM EST

Looking for young talent, the Rays are going to sponsor a baseball academy in Brazil.

Tampa Bay is the first Major League Baseball team to sponsor a team in the country.

"Brazil has been good at producing athletes," said Andres Reiner, special director of development for the Rays. "Brazil has a lot of people, millions of young people and not everyone can play soccer. If they aren't good soccer players they can be good baseball players."

Via ESPN