F E AT U R E Marine Corps veteran Roc Rothchild, owner of Home Run Stadium Batting Cages in Mesa, is seeking help from the community to pay for needed repairs to his business after lost revenue from the light rail project and pandemic. (Photo by Pablo Robles)
Hoping for a
Home Run Marine Corps veteran needs help for his batting cages
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BY ZACH ALVIRA Sound of Freedom Staff Writer
he owner of a local batting cage that has become a staple in the Mesa is asking for help to fund much-needed repairs after losing money because of light rail construction and the pandemic. Home Run Stadium Batting Cages is owned by Marine Corps veteran Roc Rothchild, and located near Gilbert Road and Main Street in Mesa. It has long been a go-to destination for amateur and professional baseball enthusiasts. Local high schools, including nearby Mountain View, have used the cages in previous years for batting practice. Several pro players have come through at various times, most commonly when preparing
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for spring training both in the Valley and in Florida. But perhaps most importantly, it’s become a destination for families to enjoy time with their loved ones while getting a small sample size of America’s greatest pastime. “People love it,” Rothchild says. “I’ve had people reach out to me and tell me some of their favorite memories from the batting cages. It means the world to me to hear that.” Home Run Stadium opened in Mesa in 1986. Rothchild, the current owner, took over in the 1990s while looking for a business venture after retiring from a bank. According to Rothchild, Home Run Stadium was an easy choice to purchase. Not only did he enjoy baseball and play growing up, but he saw an opportunity for those in the community to enjoy the venue together. But, after over three decades of service, the cages have suffered wear and tear. Rothchild in the last year repaved the concrete behind the pitching machines — which are still the originals from when Home Run Stadium first opened. He’s also had to replace some of the netting on the dome, which serves as the largest of its kind in the state and country. That alone has become an attraction to many as it allows the balls to carry farther, simulating what could be a home run on an actual field. Rothchild also recently replaced all the baseball and softballs for the machines, about 2,000 in total. SEE BATTING CAGES PAGE 20
