CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kids throughout Charlotte got a chance to learn from some of the best to play on a baseball diamond.
Former MLB players took part in a youth baseball clinic Saturday at Richard “Stick” Williams Dream Fields at Queens University, where kids learned all the ins and outs of the sport.
The pros were on deck, teaching all the tips and tricks to the next generation. They hope that it’s a hit and that they can build a future on the baseball diamond.
Shiloh Graham is a 7th-grade baseball player with a big dream. He went to the camp to get closer to it.
“I want to make it to the MLB," he told WCNC Charlotte.
Who better to make that dream a reality than the former players who lived it? Herm Wittingham played for years in the big leagues and helped coach in the youth clinic.
"You got to have a work ethic, there's a lot of things you got to do," he said.
But it's not all just gritting teeth to run the bases. Wittingham aims to make it fun for the next generation and help them hone their skills.
“Where in the world can you fail 75% of the time and still have a job? Nowhere but baseball," he said. “I tell kids, 'Take what you love to do and make it your livelihood'. You never have to worry about a job."
Emily Castro with the MLB Players Alumni Association shares that this is an opportunity for both former and current players.
"It's a free opportunity for these kids to get involved in baseball, that otherwise may not be able to.”
For young players like Shiloh Graham, he hopes to share the diamond with the alumni again soon.
Contact Myles Harris at mharris5@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.