LITTLE ROCK — Two major leaguers with ties to the Tri-Lakes Edition coverage area participated in a baseball camp that was sponsored by the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation and ProCamps.
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee of Benton and Chicago Cubs pitcher Travis Wood of Bryant were among four pro players who taught baseball fundamentals, along with Dustin Mosely of Texarkana, who has pitched with three Major League teams, most recently San Diego in 2012, and Jonathan Pettitbone, a teammate of Lee’s in Philadelphia.
Players from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock also served as camp instructors for youths from the Little Rock Boys & Girls Club during the Dec. 13 event at Lamar Porter Field.
“This foundation lives and breathes because of the talent of these athletes and the loving in their hearts and their spouses,” said Brooks, who was in Arkansas to perform three concerts at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock. “They all join together. This is our 15th year as a foundation. I just thank God that we’ve got God-gifted athletes that want to help kids.”
For Lee and Wood, this was a homecoming of sorts, since Little Rock is so close to Saline County.
“Obviously this is home,” said Lee, who won the American League Cy Young Award in 2008 with the Cleveland Indians. “Anytime you get a chance to give back to your local community, that’s huge. And to be associated with something like the Garth Brooks Foundation, it’s a honor just to be a part of it and help share some of the things I know about baseball to some of the local kids is great.”
Wood, who made his Major League debut with the Cincinnati Reds on July 1, 2010, also said he feels honored to be a part of the camp.
“Playing baseball isn’t something every kid gets to do growing up,” Wood said. “It’s something every kid should get to do. To have them out here and give them the opportunity to learn something, meet a new person … that’s what it’s all about.”
Wood said he played at Lamar Porter Field as a high school player for the Bryant Hornets.
“To see that it’s still here and the improvements that they’ve made, it’s pretty outstanding,” Wood said.
Brooks said he enjoys watching kids learn about baseball.
“What these guys get to enjoy is that every kid out here, no matter if they are 5 or 52, loves being with baseball players and hanging out, shagging fly balls,” Brooks said.
Wood, 27, is a 2005 graduate of Bryant High School. He has a record of 34-48 in five major league seasons. Wood’s career ERA is 4.11. He was an all-star in 2013.
Wood is a lifetime .192 hitter with nine homers and eight doubles in 239 career at-bats. His nine homers is the second highest total for active pitchers, behind Yovani Gallardo of the Milwaukee Brewers, who has 12.
Lee, 36, is a 1997 graduate
of Benton High School. He made his major league debut on Sept. 15, 2002, for the Cleveland Indians. He has pitched for the Indians, Phillies, Seatttle Mariners and Texas Rangers. Lee has a career record of 143-91 with an ERA of 3.52. He’s has 12 shutouts during his career
and is a four-time all-star. He pitched in the 2009 World Series for Philadelphia and the 2010 World Series for Texas.
Staff writer Mark Buffalo can be reached at (501) 399-3676 or mbuffalo@arkansasonline.com.