BOSTON, Mass. – The Falmouth Commodores took the field at one of the most historic venues in sports on Monday, participating in the Cape Cod Baseball League’s (CCBL’s) Fenway Park workout.
The league holds this workout at the ballpark each year, allowing all 10 CCBL teams to play at the home of the Boston Red Sox. Scouts from each of the 30 MLB clubs were in attendance, giving the players the chance to showcase their skills. This was the first time the league held the workout since 2019, as the event did not take place the last two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manager Jeff Trundy said he was thrilled that the players once again were able to fulfill their lifelong dream of playing on a major league diamond.
“It’s a great opportunity for the guys,” Trundy said. “They have so much fun here. This is obviously a historic place for baseball and for them to come in and be able to hit here, take infield and do all the things that, probably, they never thought maybe they would do in this place. So it’s pretty neat, and it’s nice to see them with smiles on their faces.”
There were also several notable baseball figures in attendance, including sportswriter Peter Gammons; Red Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock; Jarrod Saltalamacchia, former Red Sox catcher and Bourne Braves assistant coach; and Chaim Bloom, Chief Baseball Officer for the Boston Red Sox.
During the event, the team completed an infield/outfield workout, in which the players got fielding practice at their respective positions. This was followed by the club taking batting practice. Shortstop Alex Mooney said he enjoyed practicing on a field where countless memorable baseball moments have taken place.
“Fenway is one of the most famous ballparks, if not the most famous ballpark in ‘the show,’” Mooney said. “So, just getting to take a round of [infield/outfield] and a round of [batting practice] was a pretty cool experience.”
Multiple members of the Commodores’ lineup hit the ball off of the Green Monster and outfielder Luke Boyers left the yard by hitting a ball into one of the bullpens in right-center field. Center fielder Andrew Pinckney said he was pleased with his performance during batting practice, but admitted he was trying to hit a homer over the ballpark’s 37-foot-2-inch high wall.
“I think it went really good,” Pinckney said. “At first, I was trying not to do too much, and at the end, I was just trying to go for it and say I hit one over the Green Monster. It didn’t really work out for me, but it was just really fun and I was happy to do it.”
Pinckney also said he was excited to play in the same outfield as Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr., who he called his idol. Mooney recently attended a game at the ballpark and said he enjoyed gaining the perspective of what it is like to patrol shortstop at the 110-year-old venue.
“I came here a couple [of] weeks ago on an off day to watch the [Detroit] Tigers play the Red Sox,” Mooney said. “So, it’s cool to look at it as a fan but it’s awesome to be out here as a player.”
Several players, interns and team personnel also attended a tour of the park after the workout concluded. During the tour, the group had the chance to sit in the Green Monster seats and check out the press box. Trundy said he was happy that the club experienced all that the ballpark has to offer.
“They [had] a blast,” Trundy said. “I always say it’s kind of like they go back to being 12 or 13 years old again, and just enjoying the game and having fun, and that’s what it’s all about. … I think when they walk in here and they see how special this place is, it’s something they’ll always remember.”
Note: Featured image by Charlotte Macht.
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Tommy Mumau can be reached at tmumau@ithaca.edu. Follow him on Twitter @tommymumau13.
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