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As a young baseball player in Miami, David Espinosa would hurry home from school, grab his bats and spend the afternoon swinging away in the batting cages at Tamiami Park.
He credits those hours, and the coaching he received, for the hitting prowess he developed that led to being named national high school player of the year and being drafted by the Cincinnati Reds as a first round pick in 2000.
Now, after an exciting 15-year career in professional baseball, David and his wife, Cristin, have returned to where it all began to serve a new generation of sluggers. The duo now run the newly branded Swing Kings batting cage operation, which has been thoroughly renovated and upgraded with the help of David’s father, Elias.
“I hit here for many years and it’s always been a very important place for me,” David said.
“The feeling here is like that of a family…kids, parents and coaches coming together, becoming better players and developing lifelong friendships.”
In late 2020 David and Cristin reached out to the Miami-Dade Parks with an ambitious proposal to overhaul the entire batting cage operation. David’s experience as a ballplayer was complemented by Cristin’s retail business experience and MBA degree made them the natural choice.
“When we took over, the whole place was run-down and outdated. People were turned off by it. With the help of my father, Elias, we threw ourselves into the work and replaced the shade awnings, painted and added top-of-the-line turf, new netting, and powerful LED lighting for night batting practice. We also renovated the interior spaces, adding to the retail area and brightening the entire customer experience.”
Swing Kings offers eight token-operated batting cages with individual pitching machines and six rental cages for private instruction, team rentals or to just have fun. Want to try your hand at a 90 mph fastball or a curveball? Step right up. Eighteen pitches costs only two bucks.
Also onsite is a private baseball academy called Diamond Dreams Miami. It is operated by longtime baseball coach Mike Quintana. Beloved manager Chico Sanchez keeps the customers happy and supplied with refreshments from the fully stocked shop.
From the age of seven, David knew baseball was his sport. Under the coaching of his father, and later under Jorge and JC Diaz, Espinosa got good very quickly, learning the biomechanics of swinging a bat and the importance of wrist snap for power. He played at Westminster Christian under legendary coach Rich Hofman and graduated from Gulliver Prep in 2000. He signed a national letter of intent to play at the University of Miami before being drafted 23rd overall in the first round.
Turtle Thomas, former head baseball coach at Florida International University and recruiting coordinator at the University of Miami, led a hitting camp at Swing Kings on June 5.
“People tell us they grew up playing here, and it makes me feel good to hear that,” David said. “Cristin and I want to create a legacy here, for our two young boys, our extended family and other families.”
Swing Kings is located at 2201 SW 117 Ave. at Tamiami Park. For more information, follow them on all social media outlets under SwingKingsMIA. You also can visit https://swingkingsmiami.com/ or call 305-723-1931.
