Julio Henriquez was a youth baseball phenom growing up in Chelsea. His skills were so advanced that he became a starting varsity player at Chelsea High as an eighth grader. He played one more year of varsity baseball before he chose not to continue his career.
Julio and Gina Henriquez, with their son, Jordan, at the first anniversary celebration of The Dugout baseball training facility in Lynn.
Every day I regret that
decision,” said Henriquez. “I’m not looking for excuses, but I didn’t have
anybody driving me to continue playing the game.”
Henriquez tells that
story of a dream unfulfilled to the many baseball players who train at The
Dugout, his baseball facility located at
71 Linden St., Suite 202B, in Lynn. The Dugout is celebrating its first
anniversary this month. Committed to helping players improve and grow as
baseball players and student-athletes, the Dugout’s mission is: Act On Your
Dream.
“We’re here to help
players take their game to the next level,” said Henriquez. “It’s been a great
first year. I feel I’ve grown as a businessman, a trainer, and a mentor. I’m
inspired by what we’ve accomplished here, and I can’t wait to see what the
future brings.”
Henriquez and his coaching
staff offer individualized and group instruction to youth baseball players.
They give hitting lessons in the batting cages, along with pitching, fielding,
and catching clinics.
Henriquez has been a
coach himself for 20 years. His oldest son, Jovan, played in the Malden Little
League and for the Boston Astros before Julio founded the Angel Baseball Giants
travel teams that have won two state championships. The teams compete in the
annual Lou Tompkins Tournament of Champions.
Players from Lynn, other
local communities, and as far away as Portsmouth (N.H.) have been traveling to
the Dugout in preparation for the 2019 baseball season. In addition to the
baseball skills clinics, there are also strength, agility, and conditioning
sessions.
“I’m happy to say we’re
getting a lot of Lynn’s high school baseball players training here,” said
Henriquez. “They also love my Manimal Camp (for strength and conditioning).”
Jason Harper, a former
independent league baseball player, is the pitching coach at the Dugout. Other
coaches are Dustin Voss and Sharom Urdaneta.
Henriquez said the Dugout
is expanding its instructional program to include softball. He is in the
process of hiring a pitching coach.
The reviews from parents
have been positive. Henriquez is optimistic about the increasing enrollment at
the facility and proud of the players’ improvement in all facets of their game.
“The athletes tell me
they love being in a baseball environment during the winter,” said Henriquez.
“One player told me, ‘when I walk in to this space, it’s like it has its own
heartbeat.’”
One of the well-known local athletes who works out at the Dugout is Ryan
January of Swampscott, a player in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.
Read the article:
Act on Your Dream Julio Henriquez’s Dugout Baseball Facility Celebrates Its First Anniversary