Arriving at the batting cage 'Slugger's Den' located near the city, Ryan's heart pounded with excitement. He felt like a child about to open a Christmas present, and the joy was plastered all over his face. Finally, it was his time to start his baseball dream.
"Ryan," his dad tapped his shoulder, handing over a baseball bat. "You're excited, aren't you? Haha!"
Before he could answer, Andrew dragged him into the building to the reception area to pay for 2 hours while Ryan quietly followed behind.
WHOOOSH
DONG
The sound of baseball bats slicing through the air and hitting balls from the pitching machines echoed in the indoor field, where multiple batting cages were lined up next to each other. People of all ages, from young students to middle-aged adults, were swinging their bats.
"Wow, is this what batting cages look like?" Ryan exclaimed in admiration, watching others swing at the fastballs coming their way.
"Before we begin, do you know the basics of batting? Batting isn't just about hitting a home run every time. While hitting home runs can score points for your team, it's nearly impossible to do it on every pitch, even the world's best batters struggle with that." Ryan snapped back to attention at his dad's words after getting lost in the sights of the cage.
"I do," Ryan replied. "I researched baseball a lot since you asked me if I wanted to try it before." He gave a simple yet effective excuse. After all, he just came to this world.
"Good, then I will make this short. Usually, the first five batters in the lineup are the most dangerous when defending the field, but that doesn't mean you can underestimate the four batters afterwards – they can be just as dangerous if you let your guard down." Andrew began explaining the importance of each batter's role while Ryan listened intently.
"The 1st batter, also known as the leadoff hitter, aims to get on base by all means necessary. Reliable contact when swinging is more important than power, as they need to reach first, second, or even third base – of course, that doesn't mean they should give up on their power. Speed is critical, especially when it's time for the second batter to take their turn."
"The 2nd batter also focuses on getting good contact with the ball, while power isn't essential. Their job is to get on base for the batters behind to bring them home. But remember, if you underestimate the first two batters, it can be your downfall. If the pitcher throws a slow ball, it could go deep into the stands for a home run, so don't let your guard down."
"The 3rd batter is a more all-round batter, be it contact or power. They are one of the more reliable batters for the team. They should either bring the first two runners home or load the base to let the 4th or 5th batter, usually called the cleanup hitters, get them home and score points. So keep that in mind, son. Hitting home runs is not the only job of a batter." Andrew decided to keep things as short and straightforward as possible to not overload Ryan's brain with too much information.
Ryan simply nodded, "Got it, I will keep it in mind."
"Good, there are more things that fit into these batting roles, like having the ability to read the pitcher but that comes with time and enough analyzing."
"Alright then, off you go. Try your best, I will give you a few pointers once you've got the hang of the feeling in the bat box."
Since it was Ryan's first time batting, he stepped into the batting cage with the pitching machine set at 65mph, which was considered very average, almost below average pitching speed for a last year junior high student.
The bat rested over Ryan's shoulder like he had seen players do in videos. Unsure of how to swing properly, he relied solely on his instincts.
WHOSH
DING
"Oh, I made contact!"
Feeling the happiness of hitting the first ball and the short stinging sensation in his arms from the ball hitting the bat. The ball was grounded to the side, which was considered a foul.
WHOSH
PAH
The next pitch hit the leather plate behind him, signaling a missed swing.
WHOSH
PAH
"Bend your knees slightly, stand shoulder-width apart, and stay relaxed," his dad pointed out from outside the cage.
"Since you're right-handed, grip the bat with your right hand at the bottom of the bat and your left hand just above your right hand. Hold it firmly, but not too tightly – imagine it's a hammer. Relax your arms and bend your elbows slightly. When the ball approaches, put your weight on your back foot, take a small step forward with your front foot, and channel your power into the motion. Your hips and shoulders should move together as you swing, and remember to follow through for maximum power. Control and precision are just as important as power." Noticing Ryan swinging purely on instinct, Andrew emphasized proper technique to prevent him from developing bad habits.
Ryan tried to mimic everything his dad told him, but he found it hard to do everything correctly on the first try. However, he didn't give up. Even though he kept missing the ball, he continued to swing, emphasizing his form. After 30 minutes of constant effort, he began to lose motivation. He wasn't naive – he felt his talent was lacking, at least compared to the geniuses.
He watched the other young batters around his cage hit pitches with a high success rate. One in particular caught his attention. A student who seemed to be around Ryan's age, who hit almost every pitch at 83 mph.
WHOOSH
DING
83mph was considered just reaching the top-level pitching speeds for a junior high student. Some geniuses could throw as fast as 88mph, even at a high school level that was considered good enough to be a bench player. Seeing this only diminished Ryan's motivation and self-esteem further.
"How am I always at the bottom? I got a 2nd chance to play baseball, I will never catch up to the prodigies with this poor talent."
"Ugh, stop thinking, I've just started. Comparing myself to people around me won't help. Talent is not everything, hard work is needed to make that talent shine to begin with." Ryan cheered himself up with newfound conviction.
Andrew, who was watching from outside the cage, couldn't help but sigh. It seemed his son didn't have a natural talent for batting. "Don't give up so easily, Ryan. Nothing comes overnight. Keep practicing and you will improve. Don't get discouraged because of a lack of immediate success. Batting might not be your strong suit, but that doesn't mean you aren't good at pitching. How about we go over there and give it a try, see how that feels?"
Ryan sighed, "You're right. I just had too high hopes for myself."
Accepting his dad's words, he pushed aside the negative thoughts. At least he got to play baseball, which he had always dreamed of. Comparing himself to the monsters is useless, it's better to work hard to improve as much as possible.
With that, Ryan and his dad walked over to a wall marked for pitching practice with a striking zone.