An October Visit with MLB Veteran Josh Harrison

One of the most meaningful moments in the early planning of The Training Camp HQ happened during a visit from longtime friend and Major League Baseball veteran Josh Harrison.

Josh Harrison and Josh Whitlock’s friendship actually started on a college baseball field. Whitlock was pitching for West Virginia University while Harrison was playing for the University of Cincinnati in the Big East. During one game Whitlock kept hearing someone yelling “Josh!” from the opposing dugout and thought they were chirping him. It turns out they were cheering for Josh Harrison.

That moment turned into a running joke and the beginning of a friendship that has lasted for years.

Both were later drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2008, and they stayed connected throughout their careers and life off the field. Harrison was even part of Josh and Brittany’s wedding, and the friendship has continued through different stages of baseball, family, and life.

Last October we invited J-Hay down to Charlotte to take a look at one of the properties we were considering for The Training Camp HQ.

What started as a quick visit turned into a really special day. Harrison shared his perspective from more than 15 years in Major League Baseball, including time with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Oakland Athletics, Chicago White Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies. We talked about training environments, baseball technology used at the professional level, and the vision behind what we are building.

At one point the day turned into an impromptu practice with our son Kade and a few of his friends. Harrison’s natural instincts as both a big leaguer and a dad kicked in, offering tips and encouragement to the boys.

The day ended with dinner, catching up with old friends, and walking away with valuable advice and plenty of stories.

Moments like that remind us what baseball is really about and continue to shape the vision for what The Training Camp HQ can become. After all, you never know who you might run into at The Training Camp HQ.