Getty Image / Stacy Revere / Stringer
People are being forced to make adjustments in their behavior as they are confined to their homes. Everyone, from celebrities to politicians to professional athletes have had to sit on the sidelines. But for a baseball player, how do you stay sharp while being restricted from leaving your home? For Willson Contreras, the answer is a Nerf gun.
The 2020 MLB season was supposed to start on Thursday, but it has been postponed indefinitely and won’t be back until May at the earliest. Spring training was canceled, but the regular baseball season has not been canceled. So with MLB camps closed, Willson Contreras, along with his brother, have discovered an incredible way to stay prepared for the MLB season.
The Chicago Cubs’ catcher doesn’t have a batting cage at his home. Willson’s brother William, who is a fellow catcher and top 10 prospect in the Atlanta Braves farm system, can’t throw 92 mph, but he can use a Nerf gun.
The 22-year-old William stood on a chair to replicate the height of a pitcher on the mound, and then fired balls from his Nerf gun so that Willson can practice his swing without leaving the comfort of their driveway. Brilliant!
https://twitter.com/WContreras40/status/1241060916738883584
Where are all of these balls going? Willson’s next door neighbor must have like 300 Nerf gun balls in their yard.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B99t1g_HrLp/
Pitching guns. Why didn’t anyone think of this before? The Baltimore Orioles should just have five Nerf guns for their starting rotation.
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright commented on the video by saying: “That’s awesome. And our hitters are using bazookas to hit … bb’s. So there.”
And our hitters are using bazookas to hit … bb's. So there…
— Adam Wainwright (@UncleCharlie50) March 21, 2020
When he’s not taking Nerf gun BP, Contreras has been trying to spread some positivity online during these trying times.
Missing ⚾️?
In the weeks ahead, we’ll be sharing dozens of stories about @MLB’s players — and it’s all good news.
Today, @Cubs C @WContreras40. pic.twitter.com/OnSEi6ZjZO
— MLB Players Media (@MLBPlayersMedia) March 20, 2020
The 27-year-old Willson is entering his fifth season with the Cubs, where he batted .272 with a career-high 24 home runs and .888 OPS last season. Sadly, this is as close to real baseball action you’ll get to see for the foreseeable future.
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