Pat “the Bat” Burrell Helps to Kick Off Legends Academy

By Vytas Mazeika Daily News Staff Writer
MercuryNews.com

David Klein sure knows how to catch a kid’s attention.

For Day 1 of the Legends Academy, a newly formed developmental baseball program for boys ages 9 to 13, the founder of the Menlo Park Legends — a community-driven baseball organization — invited a special guest to act as hitting coach Tuesday on Homer Field at Willie Mays Ballpark in Atherton: Pat “The Bat” Burrell, a two-time World Series champion, including 2010 with the San Francisco Giants.

“I would definitely say maybe slightly over-qualified to teach a 10-year-old how to swing, but it was definitely a real thrill for the kids,” Klein said. “It’s a thrill for everyone to have a World Series champion out here with us. So as much as he can come out, we’d love to have him.”

The 38-year-old retired MLB slugger, who was the No. 1 overall pick out of the University of Miami in 1998, hit .253 with 292 home runs and 976 RBI over his 12-year career.

“I had a blast,” said Burrell, a graduate of Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose who admitted to a lack of experience working with kids. “I was surprised how much they can retain. I was trying to help with little things that I could see and these guys make adjustments. I did notice there was a big discrepancy between 10 and 12, that age group. But, man, what a great thing that Dave is doing here. And I’m just happy that he invited me out, and I’m hoping to come back.”

The Legends Academy, which aims to teach kids skills beyond baseball, is Klein’s answer to the growth of travel ball.

“We decided that we’re going to put together a developmental program that will essentially be a year-round program that focuses on building better baseball players and better people, really,” he said.

As kids took hacks at the cage-netting stations, Burrell supervised each group for roughly 90 minutes.

“I’m pretty sure that I have his rookie card at home,” said 10-year-old Jack Crousore, whose family lives in Menlo Park. “And I was really excited that he was my hitting coach because I struggle with my hitting, and I knew he could definitely give me some pointers and that I could get better, that I could get on base more.”

What kind of advice did Burrell provide this burgeoning switch hitter?

“Because I stick the barrel behind my head sometimes, and he told me to keep it up straight back here,” said Crousore, a New York Yankees fan who also roots for the Giants. “And make sure I throw my top hand to the ball for more power. And don’t uppercut.”

It wasn’t just the kids who were attempting to impress the two-time World Series champ.

“Kids, even myself, are pretty astonished by that,” said Mike Couch, a coach in the Legends Academy and another Bellarmine grad (class of 2008), plus a former pitcher at Santa Clara University. “So you want to put a little extra effort, get noticed.”

Burrell, who retired in 2011 and spent the past three years as a special assignment scout for the Giants, answered a few questions after practice from the kids sitting in the stands.

Did he stand out in Little League?

“You know, not really,” Burrell said. “I grew up about an hour away in the Santa Cruz Mountains and we had a very competitive Little League. I certainly thought I was one of the better players, but I certainly wasn’t the best.”

What was his career batting average?
“Oh boy, are you trying to make me feel bad?” Burrell replied to a burst of laughter. And for closing thoughts?

“Baseball is the greatest game in the world,” Burrell said. “It’s also the hardest, and the only way you can get to the level that I was fortunate enough to play at is by hard work and passion. And when I say passion, you have to enjoy being out here working every day, because it takes a lot of practice and hard work and determination to be able to get to the major leagues. And that’s only half of it. Then there has to be a lot of luck that comes with it, too.”

Email Vytas Mazeika at vmazeika@dailynewsgroup.com;

follow him at Twitter.com/dailynewsvytas.