NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
The Medicine Hat Mavericks welcomed 13 mini Mavs to Athletic Park Wednesday afternoon for their Mini Mavs camp that involved on-field instruction with players followed with hot dogs and hanging out with the Mavericks.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The future of the Medicine Hat Mavericks was on display Wednesday afternoon.
The Mavericks held their mini Mavs camp at Athletic Park as five Mavericks players and head coach Tyler Jeske worked with the young players on different skills around the diamond.
Outfielder Braden DeSonia was tossing batting practice while dodging hit balls at home plate; infielders Nate Ade and Nate Ewing worked on receiving the ball from one side of the body and throwing to the other and pitchers; Kam Richards and Mathew Krall played catch with the kids.
After the instructionals the mini Mavs and Mavericks players were treated to a hot dog lunch to socialize with one another.
Jeske roamed through the camp and said he saw some future Mavericks among the kids and said it was a good afternoon for everyone.
“Events like this are a lot of fun, especially with the players getting to interact with the kids who come to the ballpark and look up to them and are waiting at the end of the game for autographs,” Jeske said. “In a lot of ways, they serve as role models, even though it might just be for one summer, it’s kind of planting the seed and the love of the game.”
Mavericks pitching coach Rod White was repairing the Mavericks mound while the camp was running. He said he was excited by the future prospects on display. He said any young baseball players who want to become pitchers should just get comfortable throwing the ball.
“Get used to throwing the ball,” White said. “Everybody’s body is different. So they have to get accustomed to what their bodies are capable of doing and then as they get older, you kind of get to progress from there with it.”
Jeske, the former minor league hitting coach with MLB’s Los Angeles Angels, said his tip for younger hitters is to simply hit the ball hard and hit it forward.
“If you look at social media now or you turn on a game, you can see exit velocity and launch angle and that’s really taken over the game. Are those numbers important, yes, but again, it starts with learning to hit the ball hard,” Jeske said. “Just learn to hit the ball hard consistently, don’t overcomplicate it, keep it simple. Stay balanced, be on time and get a good pitch to hit. As data and analytics have grown at the higher levels of the game it isn’t always necessarily what young kids should be striving for. To become a power hitter, you have to first become a good hitter. So I really strip it down to hit the ball hard, forward.”
Ade, who has become the Mavericks’ everyday shortstop, also walked his group through the across the body, ‘Derek Jeter throw,’ from the 1998 ALCS. He said the kids had not heard about the throw before and he felt he had to teach them the iconic move. The Davis, Calif. product said he enjoyed the afternoon because it took him back to his baseball roots.
“It was fun. It reminds me when I was 11 or 12 learning how to play and just playing because you’ve loved it,” Ade said. “It takes me back and it makes me really appreciate that I’m here.”
Ade and the Mavericks were in action Wednesday night at Athletic Park for their second straight game against the Regina Red Sox. Medicine Hat led the Red Sox 4-0 after four innings Tuesday night before ultimately losing 6-5.
Wednesday’s game was not complete by time of press, visit medicinehatnews.com/sports for a full story on the game
The Mavericks wrap of their three-game set against Regina Thursday night with a 7:05 contest at Athletic Park.
Editors note: An earlier version of the story stated Mavericks pitcher Kam Robinson took part in the Mavs camp. Kam Richards was the pitcher involved.
