Garth Brooks, the famous country singer, had a significant impact on an MLB hitter's batting stance in the past. The current manager of the Chicago Cubs, Craig Counsell, had an impressive career as a professional baseball player for 12 years, starting from 1995 to 2007.
Counsell gained a reputation for his unique and unconventional way of holding his bat while batting. He would raise his bat high up in the air, leaving everyone curious about the reason behind his technique. Interestingly, Counsell never provided any explanation for this unusual stance.
Upon becoming the manager of the Chicago Cubs, Counsell made an appearance at the 2024 Cubs Convention. During this event, an individual finally inquired about the reason behind his previous practice of holding the bat in a high position above the ground.
He attributes the responsibility to Garth Brooks.
Counsell clarifies that during his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers at spring training, he struggled as a hitter and was unable to achieve any hits.
During a spring training game, I struck a powerful hit towards the left field. I was thrilled and thought to myself, "Finally, my first successful hit!" Eagerly, I lowered my head and swiftly ran towards first base. The crowd's excitement grew exponentially, their cheers reaching a fever pitch. However, when I glanced up, I was astonished to witness Garth Brooks, known for his music, unexpectedly making a remarkable diving catch in left field. Consequently, my streak of not getting a hit continued as I remained 0-4
The individuals present at the press conference found this story to be extremely amusing.
The following day, I was set free. I had a conversation with myself, wondering why I couldn't achieve any successful hits. This led me to raise my hands up high in the air, and surprisingly, it made a positive difference.
I hold Garth Brooks responsible for my terrible batting stance.
Brooks, who is widely recognized as one of the most prominent figures in the music industry, had a passion for sports during his younger years. He actively participated in baseball and track and field events. Despite having three opportunities to join the New York Mets, he unfortunately did not secure a spot on the team.
Evan Paul is the person in charge of hosting Taste of Country Nights, a radio show that is broadcasted on over 120 country radio stations all across the country. The show airs every evening from 7 PM until midnight. Evan Paul selects and plays the finest new country music and also conducts interviews with some of the biggest stars in the industry today. Some of the notable artists that he has interviewed include Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Dan + Shay, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Lady A, and Morgan Wallen, among others.
Take a look at the interior of Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood's beach house in Malibu. The gallery credit goes to Sterling Whitaker.
Photos: Take a look inside the beautiful Palm Beach townhouse owned by Sean Hannity. Credit for the gallery goes to Sterling Whitaker.
A compilation of the saddest country songs ever recorded, ranked according to their level of emotional impact. Credit for the gallery goes to Carena
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