By Danielle McCartan (@CoachMcCartan)

BROOKVILLE, NY- Noah Syndergaard, ace starting pitcher for the New York Mets, can now add another title to his resume: coach.  On August 8th, 2016, 250 kids (grades 1-8) attended Syndergaard’s inaugural Citi baseball Procamp at Long Island University’s Post campus.  While throwing batting practice, he even challenged one of the campers with his curveball!

@Noahsyndergaard throwing some BP @ProCamps ! Overheard: “you want my curveball?” #mets pic.twitter.com/iqMusbumqg

— Danielle McCartan (@CoachMcCartan) August 8, 2016

Syndergaard reflected on some of his favorite baseball players of all time, then told me: “I can’t imagine what these kids are feeling.  You never know when you’re going to make that kind of impression on a kid and inspire them to become a professional baseball player and to follow their dreams”.

With help from the best high school and college baseball programs in the area, campers learned the basic fundamentals of the game: bunting, fielding, pitching, and baserunning.

Quite fittingly, Christine Costanzo, from Farmingdale, New York told me: “My son wants to be a baseball player, that’s his dream: to be a pitcher.  What better chance to meet someone like [Syndergaard] and learn from these professionals and to learn how much work it is to do this?”

Baseball runs through his veins! @Noahsyndergaard @ProCamps @CitiPrivatePass #closerToPro pic.twitter.com/vWzCsLP6Ja

— Christine Costanzo (@floristgal) August 8, 2016

While Syndergaard never got the opportunity to learn from his favorite pitcher, Nolan Ryan, camper Dominic Costanzo (Christine’s son), told me: “I look up to [Noah] and I want to be like him one day”. When I asked if he was allowed to grow his hair out like his idol one day, with a smile, he replied: “I hope!”. Christine responded with a chuckle.

Media time at the @CitiPrivatePass @Noahsyndergaard Baseball #ProCamp #closertopro pic.twitter.com/8rBhSSbyfd

— ProCamps (@ProCamps) August 8, 2016