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Scout Day Spotlight: Midland

BATAVIA - Jeremiah Larbes does not mince words when giving his thoughts on Midland Baseball.

“We know who the best team in Ohio is, the best team in the country is,” Larbes said in reference to the 18U Midland Redskins team. “Everyone wants to be part of it. You either love us or hate us. It’s like the Yankees.”

If it is based on Connie Mack championships, there is no arguing on the subject. Midland has captured 15 Connie Mack championships since the 1980s, including taking titles the past two years out in Farmington, New Mexico.

“It’s our ultimate goal,” Larbes said. “It’s why we’re here … that and to get kids on to college.”

Alumni like Barry Larkin, Ken Griffey Jr., and Andrew Benintendi is an example of the players that have come through the organization.

“We’ve got a rich history in getting kids moved on to college and the pros,” Larbes pointed out. “We’ve probably had the most major leaguers of any organization that is out there.”

Schools like Louisville, Texas Tech, Arkansas, Tennessee, Michigan, Michigan State and Kentucky have given scholarships to Midland players as well as state schools Xavier, Cincinnati, Miami and Ohio State.

“We get players from everywhere,” explained Larbes, noting that 14 out-of-town and 10 in-town players (Ohio south into Alabama and north into part of Wisconsin are considered in-town) are permitted on a team. “We got a guy on board this year from Alaska.”

Midland began in 1966 with Joe Hayden the general manager.

“Joe’s sons were playing and the coach left and his wife volunteered him for the position,” Larbes reflected. “It just grew from there.”

Given the nickname Papa Joe by Larkin, Hayden was instrumental in the growth of the Redskins until passing away three years ago. His son Danny Hayden and grandson Jay Hayden have been important coaches in the organization according to Larbes, the current GM. Dave Evans has been the head coach of the Redskins since the mid-80s.

Based in Batavia, there are now three home fields for Midland teams, which this year number 26.

“We opened it back up,” Larbes explained. “We want youth teams that we’re able to build on and coach. With our name alone, we get good players. We’re not about showcase baseball, we are about developing baseball players.

“Our kids show up and we give instruction every day. We practice every day. We work out two days a week. We have a professional strength coach. We have two-and-three-hour practices. We do it all. We’re as close as you can get to a Division I college.”

Ahead this weekend is the Midland PBR Scout Day on Feb. 17.

“We’ve done it before,” Larbes said. “I’m sure our guys get a ton out of it. It’s a numbers kind of thing.”

With as many as four teams in an age group (this year there are four 13U and 15U teams), Midland provides an opportunity for development and the hope of moving on to the next level. To date, 517 former Midland players have moved on to Division I college baseball, 45 have been first-round draft picks and 75 have reached the major leagues.

“If you see what we do and with how many we have sent to college and have sent to the pros, this is where kids want to be,” Larbes said. “The ultimate goal is to be a pro so there is no better place to be than here.”