The Atlanta Braves took a unique approach to scouting this past weekend, as the team held open tryouts for local ball players in Honolulu, Hawaii.
139 of Hawaii's best baseball players put their talents on display for Braves scouts on Saturday, participating in batting practice, fielding drills, sprints and bullpen sessions in hopes of getting a chance to play for a major-league organization.
The try-outs were scouted by Dan Cox, a Braves area scouting supervisor and graduate of Aiea, a nearby high school.
"The types of players we typically get are recently released pro players, passed-over college seniors, along with junior college players who still have eligibility, and high school players," Cox told KHON 2 News.
Former New York Yankees outfielder and graduate of nearby Kamehameha, Bronson Sardinha, attended the event and was excited about the opportunities for the local talent. "What we wanna do is make a splash for Hawaii," Sardinha told KHON 2 News.
"You see that with all the guys up there, the Kolten Wongs, the Suzukis, the Victorinos. The more we can come together as a family, as an island and do what's best for the kids. That's what's gonna put a big smile on my face."
In addition to Honolulu, the Braves will host a number of open tryout camps across the country this summer, including in Myrtle Beach, SC; Orange, CA and the Bronx, NY.
(h/t KHON 2 News)
