SUGAR LAND, Texas As a former first-round draft pick, Courtney Hawkins has seen a lot of coaches throw batting practice, and Mike Weatherford is top-notch. Hell throw strikes wherever you want it, he learns your routine and learns what you want, said Hawkins. He catches bullpens for a lot of the pitchers.Hawkins met Weatherford during a workout near Dallas a few months ago. A group of Major League Baseball players and laid-off minor league players were training together to stay in shape during the pandemic, and Weatherford was throwing. My motto to all of them, when they go, hey Mike thanks for catching, thanks for throwing, its like.. hey, whatever it takes, said Weatherford.

SUGAR LAND Its been so long since friends Caden Leftwich and Zach Rapp got to attend a baseball game in-person. It doesnt matter that we have to wear a mask, we just want to watch the game, said Rapp. Im excited because I havent been in so long, said Julia Bevilacqua, there to watch her uncle Ford Proctor play. Its pretty exciting, Im glad baseball is back and that theyre doing it. One of the exciting elements of the Constellation Energy League is that many of the players are from Minor League Baseball, which was canceled this season amid COVID-19 concerns.