Back home in Maryland I work for, perhaps, the most highly esteemed baseball company in the nation, the Baseball Factory. It’s a blessing to be apart of a company that has within itself some of the brightest, hardworking people in the entire baseball world. Coaches and instructors that bring decades of combined playing and coaching experience. Player representatives the truly care if and when a student athlete makes the big decision of where to continue his or her playing career. And a technological dream team that spends hours upon hours behind cameras, computers, microphones, telephones and whatever other electronic equipment to help the team look good day in and day out.
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However, a few days ago I had my first lesson with a fifteen-year-old pitcher named Oscar Antonio. Considering that I do not speak Spanish very well, and he doesn’t speak any English, I knew this might be tough. Now, while in the states, I work for a company capable of developing young players, connecting them with colleges, and placing them in those colleges, at that moment, all that mattered was if I was going to be able to speak to this young pitcher. Was the language barrier going to stop me from communicating? Stop me from teaching proper grip and arm action? Impede me from showing a balance point or proper leg drive?
It very easily could have.