EL PASO, Texas – When Overfly Sports, a family‑run bat manufacturer based in El Paso, built a custom wood bat for St. Louis Cardinals rookie Joshua Báez earlier this year, the company never imagined the piece would become part of baseball history.
Local craftsmanship meets major‑league debut
Overfly Sports produces more than 30,000 bats annually for major‑ and minor‑league players. While the majority of its inventory is forged in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, a smaller but vital portion is crafted in the El Paso shop. For six years the firm supplied Báez with bats throughout his minor‑league journey.
“We engraved ‘major league debut’ on the knob,” said Kurt Gross, owner of Overfly Sports. “That bat was shipped to him about two weeks before his first big‑league game, and he kept it safe for that day.”
Historic performance on the field
On June 12, during a game against the Chicago Cubs, the 23‑year‑old Báez made history. He became the first player in MLB history to hit three home runs in his first three at‑bats, a feat that sent shockwaves through the baseball world.
While the family was gathered for dinner, text messages began flooding the Overfly Sports group chat. “Our group chat blew up,” Gross recalled, describing the excitement that rippled through the company.
Will Gross, an employee, added, “It felt almost unreal – the odds of that happening are unbelievable.” The accomplishment left the Gross family “still can’t fully comprehend” the magnitude of the moment.
Pride in a local product
Although the specific bat used by Báez was produced at Overfly’s Mexican facility, the company emphasized the pride of having a piece of the historic moment tied to its El Paso operations.
“We’re proud to be making major‑league bats here in El Paso; that’s something we don’t take for granted,” Kurt Gross said. “It’s a little bit of history made in Major League Baseball, and it happened right here in El Paso.”
What’s next for the rookie and the bat?
Báez’s promising rookie season was cut short by an injury later in the year. He chose to keep the historic bat rather than send it to the Hall of Fame, a decision that underscores the personal connection he feels to the piece.
Overfly Sports continues to serve players at every level, reinforcing its reputation as a trusted source of high‑quality, custom‑crafted baseball equipment. The company’s commitment to local manufacturing and its role in a record‑setting MLB moment highlight the impact a small Texas business can have on the national sports stage.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
