Major League Baseball player Xavier Edwards, in collaboration with the Players Alliance and PRIME drinks, hosted a free baseball skills camp for kids aged 8-17 in South Florida. The camp took place at Edwards’ alma mater and featured several stations, including outfield, infield, hitting, throwing, and rundowns, under the supervision of around 25-30 volunteers. Edwards emphasized the importance of giving back to the community and nurturing young talent, which led to the inception of this annual camp six years ago. Since then, it has grown steadily and attracted around 150-160 participants from South Florida, as well as a few from Maryland and Long Island, N.Y.
The camp, scheduled for 2 1/2 hours on Saturday, focused on various activities such as competing in games and relay races. Participants also had the chance to take part in a toy drive and a free pro-style showcase for college coaches. Every attendee was given Marlins, MLB, or Players Alliance caps as well as drawstring bags from HSS as a token of appreciation. The camp concluded with a post-workout pizza and snacks session, where participants could interact with Edwards and other professional ballplayers who lent their support.
Edwards, reflecting on his involvement in the camp, highlighted the importance of imparting his knowledge and experiences to the young participants. He emphasized that the goal of the camp was to provide a clear and attainable vision of pursuing a career in baseball, irrespective of the level of proficiency, whether it be college, professional, or independent ball. This approach aimed to inspire a younger generation of aspiring baseball players and impart the message that reaching for the stars might be closer than they think.
The camp witnessed the presence of several notable personalities, including Jesús Luzardo, Triston McKenzie, Paul McIntosh, and Juan Pierre, who offered their guidance and mentorship to the young ballplayers. McKenzie, who has been involved with the camp since its inception, expressed his delight in interacting with the kids and being able to engage with them on a personal level. He stressed the significance of such experiences in shaping the aspirations and goals of young, impressionable individuals.
Moreover, Luzardo, who conducts his own camp in January, and McKenzie took the opportunity to impart essential pitching mechanics and advice to the campers. Stressing the importance of discipline, hard work, and the purpose behind every throw, they encouraged the youngsters to approach every aspect of the game with dedication and determination. Both players aimed to instill a sense of purpose and an unwavering work ethic in the participants, essential attributes for aspiring baseball players.
The camp, which commenced a tradition of giving back to the community and inspiring young talents, was a resounding success, leaving a lasting impact on the participants and highlighting the significance of mentorship and community engagement in nurturing the future of baseball. With the support of the Players Alliance and other notable figures in the baseball community, Xavier Edwards’ baseball camp has become an annual event that continues to foster the spirit of camaraderie, mentorship, and talent development in South Florida.
Overall, Xavier Edwards’ baseball camp embodies a powerful message of giving back to the community and nurturing young talent, leaving a lasting impact on the participants and highlighting the significance of mentorship and community engagement in nurturing the future of baseball.
