How hard is it to hit a HR? Bases Covered finds out
Think hitting a home run is easy? Think hitting a round baseball with a round bat over 400 feet is something anyone can do? Well, newsflash: It's not. (Ted Williams, one of the greatest hitters in baseball history, would agree.)
In the newest season of Bases Covered, which launched on Thursday, Max and Jemel put that theory to the test. With the start of FTX MLB Home Run Derby X just a few weeks away, they teamed up with former Olympic snowboarder Aimee Fuller and footballer/rugby player Paul Olima to find out for themselves.
The group headed to Regensburg, Germany, where former Angels coach Bruce Hines and former Dodgers Minor Leaguer and current German National Team member Pascal Amon were on hand to give some swing instruction and more than a little trash talk.
"I've never played baseball before, but I think I'll be able to hit a few," Olima said with plenty of bravado before stepping into the box.
Fuller was equally confident.
"I've stood atop the biggest stage of the world at the Olympics," Fuller said. "This? I've got it."
Knowing just how hard it is to play baseball despite any previous athletic pursuits, the coaches put a 15-year-old or "junior junior" up on the mound. Hurling 65 mph fastballs at the brand new baseball players, they did their best to put some solid swings together.
Were they successful? You'll need to watch the video above or click here to watch the episode. Tune in every week for more and to find out if these ballplayers can find a way to start crushing dingers just like the MLB Legends at HRDX.