It’s not unusual for the likes of professional baseball players Tim Hummel, Michael Cuddyer, David Wright and brothers BJ Upton and Justin Upton to tour the annual Homearama showcase of homes. 

What’s different this year is that one of the homes has been appropriately named “The Big League” in their honor.  Veteran Homearama builder Sam Cohen has known the major league baseball players since his own children went through the Chesapeake schools with them.

Cohen wanted to help draw attention to the fact this area is becoming a hotbed for professional baseball talent.  He also wanted to help the players promote their new athletic training facility, “7 Cities Sports,” opening next summer just down the street from Ashville Park, the community that is hosting Homearama from Oct. 3-19.

“We always come to Homearama,” said former Cincinnati Reds Tim Hummel. “We were just quiet about it.”

This year, they’ll be more noticeable, making appearances to promote the facility where they’ll be conducting sports training for all ages and all levels of skill next year in the Virginia Beach sports complex just off Princess Anne Road.

Hummel, along with Manny Upton, father of B.J. and Justin, and Henry Cuddyer, father of Michael, will be operating the facility year-round, with the current players expected to come home during the off-season to train at the new facility, and to pitch in with the training.

Hummel played seven professional seasons with the Reds, White Sox, Red Sox, and Cardinals. He was a standout at Old Dominion University in 2000, when he was named First Team All-American and Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year.

Cuddyer currently plays right field for the Minnesota Twins. He was a ninth overall pick out of Great Bridge High School in 1997, when he was named Virginia’s Player of the Year and Gatorade National Player of the Year. 

B.J. Upton plays center field for the Tampa Devil Rays. He was drafted second overall in the 2002 draft out of Greenbrier Christian Academy.  When he debuted in major league baseball in 2004, he was the youngest Devil Ray ever at age 19. 

His brother, Justin Upton, plays right field for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was a first pick overall out of Great Bridge High School in 2005 and also made his major league debut at the age of 19. As a senior in 2005, he received national attention as the Gatorade High School Player of the Year, a USA Today First-Team selection and a Baseball America High School All-American while also earning Virginia Player of the Year honors.

“They never had a facility like this when they were growing up,” said Cuddyer, Michael’s father. “This really was something they came up with as a way to give something back to the community because the community has been so good to them.”

Manny Upton says he expects other professional athletes from the area to drop by the facility, like New York Mets’ David Wright, a Hickory High School stand-out, Washington Nationals’ Ryan Zimmerman, Texas Rangers’ Josh Rupe and Arizona Diamondbacks’ Mark Reynolds.

“They all travel in the same circles,” said Upton. “These are long-term relationships – they didn’t just happen.”
Builder Sam Cohen expects to host appearances by some of the major leaguers during Homearama, recognizing that availability will depend on who might have made it to the World Series.

Cohen himself has a name in baseball history as the national record-holder of the most innings pitched in one game.  That was when he pitched 15 innings for the Eastern District champion Norview High School baseball team in 1977.
The group plans to raffle off autographed jerseys, personal training sessions and a two-day holiday hitting clinic with Michael Cuddyer, all to benefit Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters.

Local ESPN sports radio program director Tony Mercurio will host a live radio program from the home, during which some of the players are expected to call in or be present to be interviewed.

More information about the local training facility is available at www.7citiessports.com.