Differences:
1 - There are plenty of people in the USA, and in minor league baseball, who speak Spanish. Puerto Ricans, many Mexicans, and, of course, most all Americans from "Hispanic" miniority groups are at least marginally bilingual (the Americans far beyond that), and able to help players from other Latin countries. There are, by contrast, a tiny number of Japanese or Korean speakers in the USA generally or in MiLB.
2 - English and Spanish are both European languages. Same alphabet, many cognate words, same sentance structure. The amount of time one must put in to get to any particular level of functionality is far less than a totally dissimilar Asian language.
3 - Japan and Korea are First World countries, with standards of living not far from that in North America, and with functioning baseball leagues of their own. Players must be lured with money and perks to leave that for the USA. The Spanish Carribbean is a dirt poor place. The alternative for a 18 year old from the Dominican Republic to making it in baseball is a hard short life of poverty.
1 - There are plenty of people in the USA, and in minor league baseball, who speak Spanish. Puerto Ricans, many Mexicans, and, of course, most all Americans from "Hispanic" miniority groups are at least marginally bilingual (the Americans far beyond that), and able to help players from other Latin countries. There are, by contrast, a tiny number of Japanese or Korean speakers in the USA generally or in MiLB.
2 - English and Spanish are both European languages. Same alphabet, many cognate words, same sentance structure. The amount of time one must put in to get to any particular level of functionality is far less than a totally dissimilar Asian language.
3 - Japan and Korea are First World countries, with standards of living not far from that in North America, and with functioning baseball leagues of their own. Players must be lured with money and perks to leave that for the USA. The Spanish Carribbean is a dirt poor place. The alternative for a 18 year old from the Dominican Republic to making it in baseball is a hard short life of poverty.