Greeted with framed autographed jerseys as soon as you walk in,
from Tom Glavine to Pedro Martinez, Dontrelle Willis to Alex
Rodriguez
— even an autographed photo of former Pittsburgh Pirate and
grandfather Dick Barone hangs on the wall — Daniel Barone said he’s
excited and feels more comfortable in his new baseball digs.
Catering to baseball and softball players of all ages and skill
levels, Barone’s Baseball is an indoor facility complete with three
batting cages and pitching machines, two pitching mounds,
flatscreen TVs and Wi-Fi, and offers both individual and team
lessons for pitching and hitting.
HOLLISTER
From the outside, it doesn’t look like much. Positioned in between a church and an RV distributor on San Felipe Road in Hollister, Barone’s Baseball is situated inside a white metal warehouse — its only clue the “BB” logo on the front door.
Although it’s not difficult to find, Barone’e Baseball is simple in its appearance, at least from the outside.
“I tried to make it as big league as possible,” Daniel Barone said. “I want people to say when they walk in, ‘This is baseball.'”
And despite what the outside surroundings may suggest, everything about Barone’s little baseball world screams of the national pastime.
Greeted with framed autographed jerseys as soon as you walk in, from Tom Glavine to Pedro Martinez, Dontrelle Willis to Alex Rodriguez — even an autographed photo of former Pittsburgh Pirate and grandfather Dick Barone hangs on the wall — Barone said he’s excited and feels more comfortable in his new baseball digs.
Catering to baseball and softball players of all ages and skill levels, Barone’s Baseball is an indoor facility complete with three batting cages and pitching machines, two pitching mounds, flatscreen TVs and Wi-Fi, and offers both individual and team lessons for pitching and hitting.
There’s even an upstairs area where parents can watch their children hit or pitch — maybe even get some work done — while kids can come in after school and do homework prior to a lesson.
“I wanted to make it as comfortable for the kids and the parents,” said Barone, who spent two months renovating the warehouse for its grand opening, which was held Nov. 7.
“Now we’ve got an all year-round deal. I’m excited, real excited.”
Unlike in years past, when Barone was able to operate the business up until the start of the baseball season, the right-handed hurler decided to take one year off from the game, and instead focus on his baseball operation.
Making his major league debut for the Florida Marlins on Aug. 10, 2007, and recently playing for the Midland Rockhounds, a Double-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, Barone has been hampered by injuries in recent years, most notably his back.
The pitcher, who had back problems the year before as well as elbow tendonitis, opted not to have surgery and instead decided to take the year off to rest and recuperate.
“I just don’t want to take that risk right now,” said Barone, 26, of having back surgery. “I’ve seen too many guys have it and not be able to bounce back.
“I’ve been off for three months and I feel great. It’s the best my back has felt.”
Barone, a 2001 graduate of San Benito High, said sitting out the year was one of the toughest decisions he’s had to make, knowing full well just how difficult it’ll be to get back into the game.
With every intention of returning to the game as a free agent next season, though, Barone was also excited about his business as well as seeing more of his family this year.
“If it’s God’s plan for me to come back and play, then that road will be paved for me to return back into it,” Barone said. “But if my plan is to be here, then I’m OK with that. It’s exciting for us to see the kids succeed.”
Along with Kalev Betancourt, who handles the hitting instruction and recently returned from playing in Germany’s top professional league, Barone’s Baseball has been operating since 2006, although has been roving from site to site in Hollister due to the baseball season.
But after Betancourt heard Barone was taking the year off, he too decided to do the same, despite being offered the head coaching position of Germany’s Cologne Cardinals.
“When I left Germany (in September), I was gonna go back another year,” said Betancourt, a 2001 SBHS graduate who batted .310 at the plate and compiled a 6-4 mark atop the mound, including a 2.05 ERA, for the Cardinals last season. “But with Daniel taking the year off, it was a perfect opportunity to get this going.”
Barone and Betancourt had a clean-slate warehouse about two months ago, but have since transformed it into wall-to-wall baseball, with memorabilia and sitting chairs in the shape of gloves, as well as the flatscreen TVs, tuned to the MLB Network, of course.
Relishing the opportunity of giving back to Hollister’s youth, the two also receive help from Anzar High head coach Andrew Barragan, while have also been discussing a travel team with SBHS head coach Michael Luna.
“One of the things that was tough was that we got them up to the season, and then we had to go and play pro ball,” Barone said of the players he teaches. “Now we can help them during the season, go to some games and help them on and off the field.”
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Barone’s Baseball is located at 281 San Felipe Road in Hollister. For more information, call (831) 635-0111, or log on to the Web site at: www.baronesbaseball.com
