Sixteen-year-old Striker Pence, who is seen as a potential future Major League baseball player, practices in his backyard batting cage in Corona, California.
Photographer: Michelle Groskopf/Bloomberg
Parents Are Spending $100,000 for Their Kids to Chase Baseball Greatness
Travel sports can dominate a family’s calendar — and its budget. Many parents say the chance for a scholarship or a shot at the pros is well worth it.
To millions of American families who pour their money, their free time and their hopes into travel baseball, Striker Pence is the ultimate success story.
Standing 6’6”, the 16-year-old Pence’s imposing frame and fire-breathing fastball — which has been clocked at about 100 miles per hour — have drawn comparisons to Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson. He’s seen as a potential top pick in a future Major League Baseball draft.