(WXYZ) — The coronavirus pandemic forced us all to work in virtual settings. The sports world was no exception.
One local baseball instructor insists the timing, while of course unfortunate, was not the leading reason for his digital venture.
Andrew Sohn is taking baseball and softball instruction into the 2020s through everyone's favorite new tool, Zoom. Sohn and his partner, Grant Heyman, created Pro Insight with a roster of professional baseball and softball players, who work with youth players as instructors and mentors.
"People ask, 'Did you do this remote, virtual lesson website because of COVID-19?' No," he said. "We had this idea around February."
Sohn, a 27-year-old Bloomfield Hills native, played shortstop at Western Michigan. The St. Louis Cardinals picked him in the sixth round of the 2014 MLB Draft. He played in the organization for three years before transitioning into Independent League. He spent time in the offseason working with young baseball players in Southeast Michigan.
"Obviously what we're seeing with COVID-19 is terrible, but the opportunity for this remote, virtual lessons for kids to get, and what we can offer them is great," he added.
The roster of coaches is built through relationships. Sohn and Heyman played together in Canada. They promise every coach they add to Pro Insight has the character they think aligns with their own sports upbringing.
"We're making sure our coaches work with kids and each age group," Sohn said. "The kid has to be comfortable, because I know when I was playing, I would think that's super cool to create a relationship with a professional baseball player."
Lessons are $45 for 30 minutes of work. Five dollars from every lesson is donated to the Miracle League Foundation, which gives baseball-playing opportunity to people who have physical or mental disabilities. Sohn has spent years volunteering and coaching Miracle League teams.
"We've worked with quite a few kids already. I think the aspect that we bring is not just a 30-minute instruction, but it's mentorship, it's helping the kids with their journey through baseball," he added. "All of the instructors have been in the same position that they were 5-10 years ago. Now they're playing at the highest levels of baseball and softball."
Pro Insight offers an ability to see players' swings from a different perspective, provided by camera's side-views. Coaches review uploaded video alone and then with the player, and can watch the player hit live over the Zoom call.
"I could make the argument that an online, remote, virtual lesson is almost more beneficial to a player than an in-person lesson. I've been hitting, coaching, and instructing for a few years, and I see a lot of times, instructors will stand behind an L-screen and flip balls. 'Good swing, Johnny. Good swing,'" Sohn immitated. "But you don't actually see the mechanics of the swing."
For more information, visit their official site, proinsightbaseball.com.
