This incredible footage shows a toddler with impressive baseball skills, despite being only three years old.
Eli Shiflet, who turned three in January, started playing around and hitting bats at only 13 months.
His parents, Bryan, 30, and Heather, 29 from Greenville, South Carolina, have filmed him on his journey as he improves his ‘pretty amazing’ baseball swing.
Eli Shiflet, who turned three in January, started playing around and hitting bats at only 13 months
His parents, Bryan, 30, and Heather, 29 from Greenville, South Carolina, have filmed him on his journey as he improves his ‘pretty amazing’ baseball swing
‘He has loved any type of ball toy from a very little age’ Heather says.
‘We had small play bats and Daddy (Bryan) would hold a ball in his hand and Eli would swing at it and he would just keep asking to hit again and again.
‘We got his first bat and ball set around 14 months and his first Tee-ball set [a stand that holds a ball intended for children to practice baseball] around 15 months and from then on, he has loved hitting.’
Little Eli, regularly asks if his parents will throw a ball to him in the back garden – sometimes he gets so into it he’s upset when he has to come inside to eat dinner.
At the moment, his parents are just ‘letting him have fun’ but will sign him up for Tee-ball as soon as he’s old enough.
And for Eli it can’t come soon enough, as he often asks when he’ll be old enough to play with the pupils at his local high school.
Little Eli, regularly asks if his parents will throw a ball to him in the back garden – sometimes he gets so into it he’s upset when he has to come inside to eat dinner
Eli practicing with Dad Bryan, in their back garden in South Carolina, he often asks his parents to play outside
Little Eli will join a local Tee-ball league as soon as he is old enough, Mum Heather says
His athleticism at such a young age comes from his parents. Both Bryan and Heather were both involved in sports growing up
His athleticism at such a young age comes from his parents.
Both Bryan and Heather were both involved in sports growing up. While Heather did gymnastics and cheerleading throughout University, Bryan was a very talented baseball player growing up.
Heather says ‘We hope to take him to some baseball games this coming spring since he will be old enough to enjoy and watch the players.
Eli often asks his parents when he’ll be old enough to play with the pupils at his local high school
Mum Heather says ‘We hope to take him to some baseball games this coming spring since he will be old enough to enjoy and watch the players’
His parents say Eli is ‘such a fun loving active kid’ and loves being outside with his parents, sister and dog
‘We plan on attending an Atlanta Braves game along with The University of South Carolina and Clemson University baseball teams.
‘I cannot wait to see his face when we take him into a big stadium like for the Atlanta Braves and see his face light up watching the game!
‘We love to cheer on the Atlanta Braves as well as Momma’s favourite College team (The University of South Carolina) and daddy’s favourite team (Clemson University).’
She adds that Eli is ‘such a fun loving active kid’ that loves being outside with his baby sister Mabry, parents and the family dog Zoey. At age three, not only does he love baseball but also riding dirt bike and fishing.
The Shiflets: Bryan, 30, Heather, 29 and their children Eli, 3, and baby Mabry. The family love spending time outside
The Shiflets: Bryan, 30, Heather, 29 and their children Eli, 3, and baby Mabry. The family live in South Carolina and love the outdoors
Bryan and Heather bought the toddler his first Tee-ball set at 14-months and he’s loved playing ever since
As well as baseball, Eli loves playing outside on a dirt bike and going fishing with his dad Bryan
The couple bought Eli a bat and ball when he was one. As a toddler, Bryan would hold a ball in his hand while Eli would swing at it