The Batboy Experience

As one of my baseball mentors can attest, being a batboy at any level of baseball can be a truly special opportunity.

Though I never was a batboy for a major league team like fellow NYC Tastemakers contributor Ray Negron, working with minor leaguers in the dugout and in the clubhouse can be such a rewarding and meaningful experience.

When I began my career as a batboy, I wasn’t sure what to expect. An 11-year-old in a dugout with men in their twenties and thirties - what would that be like? It didn’t matter what their names were, or if anybody truly recognized them for their baseball performances. What mattered was that they were humans who treated me with kindness whether they were winning or losing.

I’d like to share three lessons that I took away from my experiences working with the pros.

1. Be Kind, Even If You’re Struggling

2. There is No Replacement for Hard Work

3. Be Curious & Observant

Right above the scoreboard, was a beautiful large number - the hitter’s batting average. Some players love seeing it and some hate it. That may depend on how well they’re performing at the plate. As each batter stepped up to the box, one number read .290, another .306, and another .275. Not bad. Several other hitters stepped up to the plate from the bottom of the lineup. As you could imagine, those numbers looked a little different: .220, .235, .198. Even though there were quite drastic differences between the quality of ballplayers from the top of the lineup to the bottom of the lineup, every player in that batting order treated me with respect and welcomed me into the clubhouse with a smile. They did not let their on-field performances dictate their outlook on life and how they treated others. They were all grateful to have the opportunity to play pro baseball. No matter the struggles or the successes, treat EVERYONE well.

There truly is no replacement for hard work. You either put in the work to achieve something or you don’t. In athletics, especially baseball, you will be exposed if the time and effort neccessary to excel in your craft is not taken seriously enough. Those players who refuse to work hard will fizzle out, especially when their natural talent level is no longer shining at the higher levels.

As a batboy, you have an opportunity to not say a whole lot, but observe everything. I was a pretty quiet kid, but that allowed me to listen and be observant of my surroudings. What did the coach just tell the pitching coach? What did that hitter say about the pitcher after he just struck out? Did he just tell the on-deck batter that he is tipping his pitches when he throws the changeup? The intricacies of the game (or life) are learned when you observe and are curious enough to ask questions.

Serving as a batboy was one of the greatest experiences of my life. It has helped me launch a career in sports media and gain the necessary skills to succeed in life. How can you be a batboy in your own life? Are there people around you who you can learn from? Are there mentor figures who are an inspiration to you? Think about those people and find a way to study their habits and how they got to where they are.

Thank you for checking out this edition of the Big League Perspective Newsletter! Be sure to share with a friend, teammate, or kid who may benefit! We’ll talk soon! In the meantime, be sure to connect on social media @billythebatboy. 🙌