Tucked into a quiet Pasadena neighborhood, this backyard batting cage in Pasadena, CA is the kind of setup every hitter wishes they had at home, and Chris Jennings built it for exactly that reason. What started as a way to keep his two sons swinging when baseball shut down during COVID has become the cage the neighborhood trains at.

The cage

The cage runs 55 feet long, 12 feet wide, and 14 feet tall, an outdoor setup with real depth for full sessions. Inside you'll find an Atec Casey pitching machine that reaches up to 100 MPH and adjusts for curveballs, plus a soft-toss machine, a hitting tee, and a hitting mat. There's a "Z" screen for front toss or overhand BP, leather baseballs with a ball cart, dimpled machine balls, and a two-sided bounce-back net for fielding work. A pitcher's plate and 9-hole strike zone let you get up-to-54-foot pitching reps in the cage or 60' 6" bullpens outside it. All of it is $40/hour, with add-ons like Camwood training bats, a Speed Hitter, fielding gloves, and a radar gun.

Who it's for

Chris welcomes youth, high school, college, and pro-level hitters. It handles individual sessions, pitching practice, small groups, and private lessons, and with a Team Practice add-on and two extra tee stations outside the cage, a full team of up to 13 players and 3 coaches can train together.

The host

"Love baseball and seeing kids learn the game," Chris says. He has two sons who play and built this cage during COVID so they could keep training when the fields closed. Now he simply wants others to get to use it, and the care that went into the space shows in every detail.

What hitters say

"The best, well organized cage/yard I've ever used.". Jeremy

"10/10". Jeremy

Good to know

The backyard is very private, with free street parking and comfortable shaded seating where parents can sit and wait. It's a relaxing, quiet space. The cage is available most weekends; for a weekday slot, send a message and Chris will see what he can do. House rules keep it clean and respectful: no cleats, gum, seeds, loud music, smoking, alcohol, or pets.