Quiroz among several Venezuelan O's

It could be an All-American story, if only it had taken place within the continental borders of the United States. Catcher Guillermo Quiroz started playing baseball when he was 3 years old, progressed through the Little League ranks and eventually made it to the Major Leagues, but he did it as part of a progressive wave of talent from Venezuela. Quiroz is one of three Venezuelans on Baltimore's current roster -- along with fellow catcher Ramon Hernandez and third baseman Melvin Mora -- and one of five who have played for the Orioles this season. There were 52 Venezuelans on Opening Day rosters this season, which falls second only to the Dominican Republic in terms of foreign countries. But if the current trends continue and if the domestic situation in Venezuela improves, those numbers could flip-flop over the next few decades. Quiroz, Mora and Hernandez all insist that baseball is the biggest sport in their homeland, and they say it will only get bigger as more and more Venezuelans experience success on the game's biggest stage.