Battle relishes his time with Pilots, plans return to ODU
HAMPTON — Old Dominion outfielder Kyle Battle is back on the baseball field with the Peninsula Pilots this summer for an abbreviated season, and he couldn’t be happier.
The Pilots, who play home games at War Memorial Stadium in Hampton, are a collegiate summer team in the Coastal Plain League.
“It’s the love of the game,” Battle said of returning after a long layoff because of the coronavirus pandemic. “I’ll do whatever to continue playing baseball for as long as possible. … It’s a great experience. Last summer and this summer so far have been some of the best summers I’ve had. If I could, I would play every summer here with them because I love it that much. It’s a great time.”
Battle had hoped to be playing professionally this summer, but after his senior season was cut short by the pandemic, the major league draft was shortened from 40 rounds to five. Undrafted, he decided to play for Peninsula this summer and will return to ODU for a full senior season next year.
“I was hoping to get picked up by a pro team this year,” he said. “Fortunately, I was starting off the year hot,
and I think if the draft wasn’t cut … and I did have a full season, with the way I was playing, I probably would’ve got picked up.”
In 16 games this season, Battle helped lead the Monarchs to a 12-4 record, hitting .367 with three home runs and hitting a walk-off RBI single in an 8-7 win over Rutgers in March.
Like many seniors whose spring seasons were cut short by COVID-19, Battle, who is majoring in sports medicine, is opting to return to ODU for a final season with the hopes of proving himself to professional scouts.
“I think that’s been my dream ever since I really started taking baseball seriously,” Battle said. “I think that’s every college baseball player’s dream.”
Now, baseball is Battle’s life. But as a kid, it was actually the last sport he decided to try. He began playing originally to spend more time with his friends, who all enjoyed the game. Once he realized how fun it was — and how good he was at it — he decided to go all-in.
As he entered Glen Allen High near Richmond, Battle began taking baseball more seriously as a potential future occupation, setting his sights on college ball and beyond.
“I was like, ‘All right, I’m fairly decent at the game, I think I want to try to ride it out as long as possible,’ ” he said.
But for Battle, it’s really all about the enjoyment of the game.
“Really, I was just having fun,” he said. “That’s a big part of why you should do anything in life. If you’re having fun with it, you should just ride it out as long as possible. I was just having fun and I found success in it when I was growing up and it has taken me to where I am now. I’m still enjoying it, so why stop?”