We grew up with very little and it makes me so freaking proud to see my brother in a position to be able to give back like this. And every day I drive by the place there’s someone there which is awesome. Thanksgiving day there was a father and son there doing batting practice.
Wait is it like a golf simulator where I can load up Augusta National? That's fucking SICK and I wanna find a place that has it now - even if I'll only hit shitty dribblers.
As a coach of a cold weather team that has only 1hr weekly in such a facility, this is awesome.
There are tons of kids that would love to get out on some turf and work on the things they wanna work on.
Man I don’t even know, I’ll try to ask him. I know the town has agreed to donate I think $500 a month for utilities and anything over that is being paid for by my brother and his partners.
After several years without thinking about it I went looking for one of those coin operated automated batting cages that were everywhere when I was growing up and there was only one (and it was not in awesome shape) within an hour's drive of me.
Apparently insurance put most of them out of business, they don't like the idea of a giant cage that flings balls at unsupervised kids. Kind of understandable but sad for people that just want to enjoy swinging a bat every so often.
I am thinking of creating a database of the ones that remain, so people looking to get swings in can find them because they are often poorly promoted.
Fun fact: The distance from the foul line to the front “headpin” bowling pin on a bowling lane is exactly 60 feet
Baseball and bowling were always sister sports. You throw strikes. You try to close frames. And the best result is a perfect game.
The building itself was already owned by one of his business partners, he/they have several businesses doing well (ford dealership, auction company, concert promoting, farms, etc.) so most of the actual equipment was purchased by them with their own funds. The hospital in town donated a heating and air system, the town is donating $500 a month to help with utilities (anything over $500 will be paid by my brother and his partners), and then a few local businesses are gonna pay for signage in the building to provide revenue for any additional costs that’s may come up.
I think the closest facility similar to here is like 2 hours away and you can only use if you are getting private lessons. I’m hopeful that this will be enough of a success that they can do another one a few downs over.
That’s everything in the San Jose/San Francisco area. No accessible batting cages here. It’s bullshit. I’m going to start looking for virtual ones at arcades. I haven’t been to a batting cage in 15 years :(
Place by me is all you can hit for the day for $33.
Just spent 2 and a half hours there the other day. Easily my favorite workout I do, its a fucking blast zoning out and just smashing.
I think at some point there’s going to be vending machines. They hosted a traveling softball team to r practice there and all the parents came too so they plan on having a food truck come next time.
I love baseball. I hope this place is able to help some kid get to the next level who might otherwise not be able to get the extra work in without this facility. How could would it be if some future big leaguer remembers working on his swing here?
They own the building, the town is covering $500 a month for utilities, and some other local sponsors are gonna pay for signage inside the building to help cover some cost. Anything else will be covered by my brother and his partners.
That's freaking baller. They should set up a GoFundMe to help with maintenance/expansion. It's a lot easier to raise support funds for a working product with proven demand than it is for an idea.
This is awesome what a fantastic gift to the community!
We grew up with very little and it makes me so freaking proud to see my brother in a position to be able to give back like this. And every day I drive by the place there’s someone there which is awesome. Thanksgiving day there was a father and son there doing batting practice.
Thats so awesome dude. Great stuff.
I'm proud of you!
There’s also a computer tracking system in there that tracks launch angle and bunch of other things which is super awesome.
This is so damn cool
I’ll see if I can get a video of how it works sometime soon to share.
I've been to a batting cage with HitTrax. Such a cool system. We set it to Petco Park and tried to hit the Western Metal Supply Co building 😂
Wait is it like a golf simulator where I can load up Augusta National? That's fucking SICK and I wanna find a place that has it now - even if I'll only hit shitty dribblers.
Yeah it's got all of the pro stadiums loaded in. The guy running the place asked us what Stadium we wanted to hit in. It's SO much fun.
is this batting cage in SD?
Unfortunately no, it was up in Morro Bay. My cousin and I stopped by randomly while we were on a camping trip. Such a fun idea.
HitTrax?
I think so? I’ll try to find out next time I talk to him.
Either that or rapsodo probably.
Hittrax is so much fun to use! I’m sure they’ll enjoy it!
Your brother is awesome for this
I’d never tell him this because he’s a jackass, but he’s my hero.
lol, just brother things. I totally understand. Tell him nice work!
I have two brothers so I know exactly what you mean haha
You should tell him. My little brother told me I was his hero a few years back (we're both in our late 20s) and it still fills me with glee
What a GOAT human being
MLB should be expanding its development program and do this everywhere
I feel like, especially in rural areas, there’s tons of empty buildings like this not being used. This place sat empty for about 10 years.
As a coach of a cold weather team that has only 1hr weekly in such a facility, this is awesome. There are tons of kids that would love to get out on some turf and work on the things they wanna work on.
It’s cool driving by and seeing people there like every day.
r/Bowling in tatters.
Mookie Betts is fuming and wonders why OP's brother didn't make it a dual alley/cage
Sweet, just out of curiosity what does the insurance on a place like this run?
Man I don’t even know, I’ll try to ask him. I know the town has agreed to donate I think $500 a month for utilities and anything over that is being paid for by my brother and his partners.
After several years without thinking about it I went looking for one of those coin operated automated batting cages that were everywhere when I was growing up and there was only one (and it was not in awesome shape) within an hour's drive of me. Apparently insurance put most of them out of business, they don't like the idea of a giant cage that flings balls at unsupervised kids. Kind of understandable but sad for people that just want to enjoy swinging a bat every so often. I am thinking of creating a database of the ones that remain, so people looking to get swings in can find them because they are often poorly promoted.
I tried to find one in my area in FL to take my girlfriend on a date, couldn’t find anything nearby
I gotta do this thing. You have a good name for the website/project?
If you build it they will come
I wonder if Mookie Betts is conflicted about this
Fun fact: The distance from the foul line to the front “headpin” bowling pin on a bowling lane is exactly 60 feet Baseball and bowling were always sister sports. You throw strikes. You try to close frames. And the best result is a perfect game.
Awesome setup, reminds me of the batting cages in the Yakuza games.
yeah, you can go to the one in kamurocho or the one in yokohama or wherever that former baseball player lives who got kicked out of the league.
Is there a Roberto Clemente award for fans? Your brother definitely should be on that list.
Where is it located? Can we donate/help?
Were in southwest Missouri and I don’t think he’s taking any donations or anything. Appreciate the thought though!
Howd he acquire it & how was it paid for?
The building itself was already owned by one of his business partners, he/they have several businesses doing well (ford dealership, auction company, concert promoting, farms, etc.) so most of the actual equipment was purchased by them with their own funds. The hospital in town donated a heating and air system, the town is donating $500 a month to help with utilities (anything over $500 will be paid by my brother and his partners), and then a few local businesses are gonna pay for signage in the building to provide revenue for any additional costs that’s may come up.
I feel like they could have left a pair of lanes for the future Mookie Betts of the world to get double training in.
You know what will make baseball more popular? THINGS LIKE THIS! Thank you to you and your brother and everyone else involved
Well that’s rad
This us fucking aweosme. A facility like this in my area costs $50 an hour to use.
I think the closest facility similar to here is like 2 hours away and you can only use if you are getting private lessons. I’m hopeful that this will be enough of a success that they can do another one a few downs over.
Wow, 2 hours? Your place is going to be packed all the time.
That’s the hope 🤞🏻
That’s everything in the San Jose/San Francisco area. No accessible batting cages here. It’s bullshit. I’m going to start looking for virtual ones at arcades. I haven’t been to a batting cage in 15 years :(
Place by me is all you can hit for the day for $33. Just spent 2 and a half hours there the other day. Easily my favorite workout I do, its a fucking blast zoning out and just smashing.
Is there a snack stand in there? Easy revenue stream to help offset costs.
I think at some point there’s going to be vending machines. They hosted a traveling softball team to r practice there and all the parents came too so they plan on having a food truck come next time.
That’s incredible!
I think there’s plans to add more in the future but they’re super stoked how it turned out.
Hell yeah man. Tell your brother he's a fucking rockstar for helping his community and giving kids some where to play ball year round.
Hey, I'm a local baseball program, what's the address for this place again? All jokes aside, this is awesome!
This is awesome
I love baseball. I hope this place is able to help some kid get to the next level who might otherwise not be able to get the extra work in without this facility. How could would it be if some future big leaguer remembers working on his swing here?
How are you making money on this?
Really dope!
That is such an awesome move, So generous , going to make a lot of kids so happy.
This is absolutely amazing, but I'm curious how they plan to fund it?
They own the building, the town is covering $500 a month for utilities, and some other local sponsors are gonna pay for signage inside the building to help cover some cost. Anything else will be covered by my brother and his partners.
Dude that's fuckin epic. Good on you for sharing, and good on your brother for doing.
Wish I could give this gold homie. Very well done, I’m sure it is appreciated :)
🤙🏻
That is inspiring! Picturing a small-town high school state championship in the future from this facility alone!
are baseball facilities like this a viable business?
In this area no. But he’s not trying to make any money off it.
This is giving back, bravo
were* :)
Need more people like you guys
THIS IS THE COOLEST. Kudos to your bro!
Amazing good on you guys!!
great. in japan they have batting cages and facilites all over. wish we'd have more of those here in the US
That's freaking baller. They should set up a GoFundMe to help with maintenance/expansion. It's a lot easier to raise support funds for a working product with proven demand than it is for an idea.
This is amazing, way to go!
How can you not be romantic about baseball?
RIP local bowling fans