It’s early Friday morning and young softball and baseball players are lined up outside the new D-BAT Chaska practice facility, well prior to the 10 a.m. opening. They’re itching to get inside to hone their skills.
“It was like we we’re selling concert tickets or something else cool,” chuckled Assistant General Manager Chris Addison.
Open since April 28, D-BAT takes up about 25,000 square feet of space in an industrial building to the west of the Engler Boulevard and Highway 212 intersection. It features five pitching machines and 21 net-lined batting cages that cater to slow-pitch softball, fast-pitch softball and baseball athletes. The pitching speeds for the machines range from 35 mph to 70 mph. Several of the batting cages are equipped with high-tech screens tracking the launch angle and velocity of the batted ball across a virtual playing field.
“We’re getting a positive response from everybody,” Addison said. “The reaction we get every time … the first word that usually comes out of people’s mouths is ‘Wow.’”
The sprawling complex is impressive. There are individual lanes that can be combined with adjacent lanes to facilitate team practices. The massive system of nets rises to the ceiling, 18 feet above the ground. There are spaces for young players practicing their t-ball skills by hitting off a tee. There are elevated mounds where pitchers can get in some practice. There are cages set up for live pitching, if a parent or coach wants to change things up for the players.
The pro shop sells every piece of equipment that a player may need, according to Addison, except for shoes and socks. “Other than that, we’ve got it all covered,” Addison said.
There’s also a party room/parents lounge near the batting cages available for use.
Players can pay for individual batting sessions or purchase membership that range from 225 swings per day to unlimited swings per day. D-BAT also offers private lessons taught by instructors with at least two years of college baseball and softball experience. In addition, there are group camps and clinics that concentrate instruction over several days.
Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
When the outside weather turns nasty, Addison said the athletes show up in droves to get some practice time.
“When it rains and the city shuts down the fields because they’re too wet, teams will come in here and practice,” Addison reports. So far, teams from Chaska, Carver, Victoria and Chanhassen have taken full advantage of the indoor complex, he adds. Individual players from as far away as Waconia, Minnetonka and beyond have also stopped in to practice.
“There just aren’t a lot of similar facilities out in this part of the metro,” Addison said.
It’s not just the young players who are showing up. Athletes from adult leagues have flocked to D-BAT to knock off some rust before the summer season begins.
“So, it’s for ages 6 to 60,” Addison said. “A lot of dads want to jump in and relive their glory days.”
The D-BAT address is 1230 Chaska Creek Way, Suite 200, Chaska. Phone is 612-489-5079.
D-BAT operates a second facility in Lake Elmo. According to owner Matt Croon, Chaska seemed like the perfect place to expand.
“Chaska and the surrounding communities have a rich tradition in baseball and softball,” he said. “This is evidenced in the high levels of success enjoyed over the years at all levels — from the different high schools in the area all the way down to the many successful and growing youth organizations. It is very exciting to be a part of this community and to be able to serve it for hopefully many, many years.”
Croon said initial feedback from athletes using the new Chaska facility has been gratifying.
“It was a long road to get here, but well worth the effort and wait,” he said.
