Joel Hartman
Prospect Dugout and GM for Squeeze Baseball in Winter Garden, Florida
I've spent my life around the game of baseball. From the age of 5, my dream was to be on TV with Ken Griffey Jr, Tony Gwynn, Gary Sheffield, and all the stars of my youth.
Fast forward 25 years and I have 5 years of minor league baseball experience and I realized my passion was more about helping others and being around the game than playing at the Major League level. I started coaching high school baseball on a whim in 2008 and managed to continue at a couple local high schools for the next 10 years.
Over those 10 years, I got into youth baseball because my son, Lucas, was playing the game. Helping with little league got my foot in the door, and as Lucas continued to excel, we were introduced to what is called "Travel Ball". Which I absolutely hate. With a passion. I had spent 20 years of my life playing the game of baseball, and seeing kids cry from getting yelled at for failing left a disgusting taste in my mouth.
So I started an organization: with a purpose to teach kids how to play baseball the right way, regardless of how many plastic trophies they won. It's hard enough to play the game as an adult, let alone as a kid with limited coordination and understanding of the game. My most memorable accomplishment from this time was seeing the majority of kids I coached continue their careers at the high school level. While others who "played to win" at age 9 struggled to make the transition, my players were in tune with the game at the high school level, making the transition much more simple.
Running an organization meant much more than coaching: creating websites, organizing schedules, communicating, advertising, managing money, running concessions, finding sponsorships and other behind the scenes responsibilities. Coupled with running a field complex, I became well rounded in the process of running a baseball organization.
Who knew it would prepare me for the next phase of my life: Prospect Dugout.
Created with a college teammate, Prospect Dugout is a digital exposure platform that helps baseball athletes get seen, regardless of their skill level.
This venture has opened numerous doors along the way, generating relationships (and friendships) with millionaires, Major League Baseball players, celebrities, and other people who have similar passions.
From a little kid hitting rocks in the backyard for BP to general manager of a college summer team with big visions of owning an MLB team: I wouldn't change a thing.