CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball today announced that former MLB All-Star and two-time Team USA alum Michael Cuddyer will host a Homegrown Clinic at Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, on Sunday, May 15.
Supported by the Southern Chesapeake Athletic Association (SCAA), the Homegrown Clinic is a free event that will host 120 kids aged 5-12 from the greater Chesapeake area.
USA Baseball Homegrown Clinics are designed to introduce kids to the fundamentals of baseball and softball in a fun, non-competitive, community-based environment. Participants will get outside to learn and play America's pastime alongside a Team USA alum from their hometown.
During the event, participants will go through various stations including baserunning, catching/throwing, fielding, and hitting. Additionally, they will play in a modified scrimmage with Cuddyer serving as the designated pitcher. Every child who attends will also receive a t-shirt and a poster commemorating the event.
Cuddyer offers a wealth of baseball experience as both a player and coach on the youth and professional levels. Prior to playing 15 seasons in the major leagues, Cuddyer spent two summers with the 18U National Team, donning the stars and stripes in 1996 and 1997. In his first summer with Team USA, Cuddyer played at the International Baseball Association (IBA) “AAA” World Championships and helped the U.S. earn a bronze medal as an infielder. Cuddyer and Team USA returned to the tournament again the following year where he led the team with three home runs en route to capturing another bronze medal in 1997.
Cuddyer was drafted by the Minnesota Twins with the ninth overall pick of the 1997 MLB Draft. He made his big-league debut with the Twins in 2001 and was a staple in the middle of their lineup over the following 11 seasons, becoming the team’s everyday right fielder in 2006 when he hit 24 home runs with 109 RBIs. Cuddyer received MVP votes following the 2010 season and was named to his first All-Star team in 2011, his final season with the Twins. He then spent three seasons with the Colorado Rockies, including another All-Star season in 2013 when he won the National League batting title with a .331 average and a career-high 162 hits. He played the final season of his career with the New York Mets in 2015, appearing in 117 games en route to winning the National League pennant. Overall, Cuddyer owns a career .277 batting average with 197 home runs and 794 RBIs, also winning a Silver Slugger award in 2013.
Since retirement, Cuddyer has stayed involved with baseball in both coaching and development. He made his USA Baseball coaching debut in 2021, serving as an assistant coach for the 2021 18U National Team. Cuddyer helped lead the stars and stripes to a 5-1-1 record in a friendship series against Canada, where the U.S. hit eight homers and outscored Team Canada, 60-11. Cuddyer was also the hitting coordinator at the 2021 Prospect Development Pipeline (PDP) League in 2021. Additionally, Cuddyer contributes a weekly online video series called “Cuddyer’s Corner” for the USA Baseball Develops blog, covering topics surrounding the game to help young athletes grow both on and off the field.
The Homegrown Clinic is one of many free developmental offerings by USA Baseball and continues the organization’s outreach to youth in the United States. For more information, please visit USABDevelops.com.
Members of the media are invited to attend. To RSVP for the event, members of the media may fill out a credential application here.
