Many kids start playing with a bat and ball early in life, and and a number of them aspire to play at an elite level. Between school sports teams and travel clubs, parents can spend countless hours and thousands of dollars giving their children the best training possible.

Within the next year, those same families can have another option to consider; meet Grant Dayton.

The retired Major League Baseball pitcher, who resides in Winter Haven, founded his own love of the sport before he started kindergarten.

“I’ve played ball since I was 4 years old,” Dayton says. “It’s always been a passion of mine. I was lucky enough to get a scholarship to play at Auburn University for 4 years, and go on to get drafted by the Florida Marlins in 2010. After 5 years with them, I got traded to the Dodgers and that’s when I made it to the big leagues, in 2016. I had 2 years with the Dodgers, and 4 more with the Braves, ultimately winning the World Series in 2021. Injuries (eventually) got the best of me, and I made the decision to retire after the 2022 season.

While retirement ended his professional career on the field, Dayton knew that it would not draw the curtain on his love for the sport. The idea of giving back to kids and families with a similar dream than he was a driving force; he just needed to find a way to do it.

“After retirement,” says Dayton, “I thought long and hard about how to give back to the community through baseball. I thought about coaching, doing private lessons, and opening my own facility. I didn’t know where to start, but I knew that I had to do something.”

His research uncovered a franchise called D-BAT, a company with a strong history and dedication to the game. Dayton found it to be a perfect fit.

“I had always known about D-BAT, and through a little bit of research, I realized there was an opportunity in this area to open one. It was a no brainer to dive right in…their pricing is more affordable than most stand alone facilities. I began to realize this area could greatly benefit from a D-BAT.”

Dayton says that there are several facets of the company that will be in line with families securing the best opportunities for kids focused on baseball.

“D-BAT Academies are clean, which in the baseball world is hard to come by,” says Dayton. “Just walk in one and you’ll know what I mean. The caliber of the facility rivals what MLB teams are using. Not to sound spoiled, but it’s what I’m used to: a top-of-the-line, technologically advanced, clean training facility.”

The new D-Bat Academy will be located at 1981 Ernie Caldwell Blvd., next to Posner Park in Davenport. The location alone screams its ties to the sport, as it’s the former location the Kansas City Royals’ Spring Training center, as well as a throwback to the days of “Boardwalk and Baseball”.

“That area has baseball history, so it’s pretty cool to be able to bring some baseball back to it,” Dayton says.

The facility with occupy a portion of a 150,000 square foot warehouse, which will be located in the same building as Planet Obstacle, a trampoline and obstacle park.

“I think that we will give each other good visibility, and be able to provide a lot of fun for everyone.”

Dayton, along with his wife, Cori, have worked together to make this dream come to life, with a couple of special reasons.

“I’ve got 2 boys who have obviously grown up around baseball,” says Dayton. “D-BAT is just as much for them as it is for me. Cori has been amazing during this process.”

While the facility is currently under development and construction, Dayton plans to be able to open the doors within a year. He’s confident that the pricing, the programs, and the value will be attractive to kids seeking to have fun and train well, as well as to parents. The facility will offer perks like memberships, clinics, camps, lessons and birthday parties. A top-of-the-line pro shop will offer “some of the best equipment in the game.” There will also be ways to earn discounts.

Dayton says he understands how kids can set their sights on plying with a Major League Baseball team one day, and is beyond excited to create a program locally to both develop their skills and hone in on what makes them happy.

“It’s been a dream of mine to find a way to give back to the community and grow the game of baseball. Baseball not only provided for my family, but also gave us memories that we’ll cherish forever. Once I dug into D-BAT’s business model and core values, it was a no brainer to bring it to this area.”

For more information, visit www.dbatdavenport.com .