We’ll start with what you are likely thinking: Sluggball?
It is a baseball competition platform where small teams compete against each other in a series of batting practice rounds that emphasize bat control and situational hitting with scoring, officials, etc.
Former Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. is a co-founder, and ex-big leaguer Kenny Lofton is an advisor.
Sluggball launched earlier this year with a series of events for adults and it will expand into high school baseball with a demo in New Jersey next week and a tournament in December — both events will be held at Centercourt Lawrence's regulation indoor field.
Sluggball has drawn a lot of understandable comparisons to TopGolf.
But I would argue it should also be compared to Shoot 360, which is why I think it is such a fascinating concept and business.
The TopGolf angle: I wanted to organize a full-fledged batting practice for my bachelor party. It was impossible to pull off.
There was too much red tape (or too little availability) with high school and municipal fields and minor league parks either want no part of it or have hefty event fees.
But Sluggball makes it possible to do something that 95% of baseball players never get to do after high school and 99% would be over the moon for if given the chance — take swings on an actual field again. And if you can shag fly balls too, even better.
The Shoot 360 angle: You are gamifying real training that will help athletes hone their skills.
Serious high school players need to be able to go to the opposite field or up the middle, move the runner over, lift the ball to get a run in, etc. And Sluggball can help speed up that developmental process.🤳 Follow Buying Sandlot on Social
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