Ex. Chicago Cub Jason Heyward helps young batters hone their skills
Ex-Cub Jason Heyward holds home run derby for kids learning the game
Ex-Chicago Cub Jason Heyward held his own Home Run Derby to help young Chicago kids perfect their own game.
CHICAGO - The baseball stars of tomorrow have been honing their skills in Chicago with the help of former Cubs star Jason Heyward.
Intentional Sports in the Austin neighborhood hosted the JHey Home Run Derby, the first of its kind held in the state-of-the-art batting cages.
Teaching Kids Baseball:
The Jason Heyward Baseball Academy teaches baseball fundamentals to thousands of young people at the facility. They’ve been operating for three years and run three travel teams ages 10 through 12.
"If people just want to come in and just work on things and kind of dial in, some hitting mechanics, pitching mechanics, if you wanna do a bit of ground balls, just a little bit on the mental space … you can come back here and lock in on some baseball," Heyward said.
The academy includes two batting cages. With hit track technology, players can gauge distance, launch angle, and exit velocity.
Sebastian Wilson, 16, is from the neighborhood but now lives in Florida and has become a standout high school player.
"Being able to see MLB players come to your community, come here for you and be able to talk to you is just awesome," Wilson said.
The former Cubs outfielder is using his success and platform to mentor and inspire the next generation of athletes.
"You talk about community and have something you're proud of and take pride in. It's nice to have facility be here in Austin just outside of Chicago," Heyward said. "But not only that, in the middle of the country, where other people can kind of take note [and] hopefully come through, and which we have."
Heyward said they’ve had about 25,000 kids come through the program annually through three years.
The event kicks off on Monday from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Intentional Sports, located at 1841 N. Laramie Ave. in Chicago.