For one unforgettable morning in Arizona, the sound of baseball bats didn’t just signal another Padres practice.
It signaled a moment where military service and baseball dreams collided on the same field.

From Military Service to Major League Dreams: Veterans Step Onto the Field With the San Diego Padres

Under the bright desert sun at Peoria Sports Complex, the San Diego Padres were going through a routine spring training practice.

Batting practice. Fielding drills. The familiar rhythm of baseball preparing for another long MLB season.

But on this particular morning, something extraordinary was happening beyond the usual routine.

Standing on the field alongside Major League players were military veterans and students from Arizona State University, chasing fly balls, talking with coaches, and living a moment most baseball fans only imagine.

For them, this wasn’t just practice.

It was a dream.

A Moment That Felt Almost Unreal

Among the group was Jocelyn South, an Arizona State University alum who has become part of a special tradition.

For the past four years, South has flown from San Diego to Arizona every spring to participate in the Padres’ Cactus League batting practice program.

Dressed in a Padres cap and brown team shirt, she takes her position in the outfield—glove ready—as major league hitters launch towering fly balls across the field.

Her first experience still feels unforgettable.

“I almost died,” South joked, recalling the moment she learned she’d been selected.

“It’s such a huge opportunity. It’s like the three things I love most—Arizona State, the Padres, and the military—all coming together.”

For South, the connection is deeply personal. Her father served in the U.S. Air Force, and her husband is a Marine veteran, making the military community a central part of her life.

Being able to step onto a Major League field represents more than a baseball thrill—it’s a celebration of identity.

A Partnership Built on Respect

The experience exists thanks to a unique collaboration between the San Diego Padres and Arizona State University’s Pat Tillman Veterans Center.

Each spring, the Padres invite veterans and military-connected students to join batting practice sessions during Cactus League training.

The program allows participants to:

Stand on the field during practice
Catch fly balls hit by MLB players
Interact directly with coaches and athletes
Experience the inside world of a professional baseball team

Michelle Loposky, director of development at the Tillman Center, says the partnership has become something truly special.

“Players, coaches, students, and alumni come together because of their shared love for the game and their respect for military service,” she explained.

Chasing Fly Balls Off Major League Bats

For many participants, the biggest surprise isn’t the atmosphere—it’s the power of Major League hitters.

Nick Cabalo, an Arizona State student and member of the Air Force ROTC program, discovered that firsthand.

During batting practice, he tracked a towering fly ball launched by Cubs slugger Nick Castellanos.

He positioned himself perfectly beneath it.

And then…

The ball popped right out of his glove.

“I did drop it,” Cabalo admitted with a laugh.

“These guys hit absolute rockets. It’s nothing like high school baseball.”

Still, after adjusting to the speed, he managed to snag several clean catches.

And just being on the field made it unforgettable.

“Not many people ever get this chance,” he said.

Experiencing the True Speed of the Game

Another participant, Timothy Hewitt, a fourth-year ASU student in the university’s professional flight program, said the moment still feels surreal every time he returns.

“The speed of the ball is different,” Hewitt explained.

“The way it comes off the bat, the way it cuts through the air—you realize these are the best players in the world.”

Even for someone who grew up playing baseball, standing in the outfield during major league batting practice is a completely different experience.

When the Wind Joins the Game

The Arizona desert wind added another challenge.

Jaelin Howell, a financial planning student at ASU and daughter of two Air Force parents, quickly realized that tracking fly balls can become tricky when gusts shift directions.

“One second you think the ball is right in front of you,” she laughed.

“And the next second it’s behind you.”

But for Howell, the unpredictability only made the experience more exciting.

“You never imagine yourself doing something like this,” she said.

“But once you’re out there, it’s pure fun.”

A Community Built Through Baseball

For Savino Anguiano, an Army veteran who helps coordinate the program through the Tillman Center, the event is about something bigger than baseball.

It’s about connection.

“Being here together—veterans, students, players—it builds community,” Anguiano said.

“You’re sharing something unforgettable.”

The Padres organization ensures participants feel welcomed from the moment they arrive.

Players and coaches are even reminded before spring training that guests wearing Padres gear on the field are members of the military community—and encouraged to introduce themselves.

Padres Players Show Their Appreciation

Inside the Padres clubhouse, the respect runs deep.

Clubhouse assistant Freddy Ochoa says players genuinely value the opportunity to meet veterans.

“They love it,” Ochoa said.
“They appreciate everything these men and women have done.”

First-base and outfield coach David Macias shares that admiration.

“If it weren’t for baseball,” he admitted, “I probably would’ve joined the military.”

And Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla echoed the sentiment shared across the organization.

“We support our military 100 percent,” Niebla said.
“Seeing them enjoy themselves out here is an honor.”

A Moment That Captures the Spirit of Baseball

As practice wrapped up and players walked off the field, Padres pitcher Jason Adam paused to reflect on the moment.

“I love our veterans,” he said.

“They sacrifice so much so that we can come out here and play a game for a living.”

Then he added something that perfectly captured the spirit of the day.

“If we can give them a chance to feel like kids again—even just for a few minutes—that means everything.”

And as baseballs flew through the Arizona sky and laughter echoed across the field, it was clear those few minutes had already become something unforgettable.