Andrew Jansen/News-Leader
Jeremy Rader stepped up to a plate most 14-year-olds only dream of home plate at a big league ballpark.
Rader, soon to be a freshman at Springfield Catholic High School, competed as a national finalist in the 2017 MLB Junior Home Run Derby. He got the chance to hit baseballs at Marlins Park in Miami as part of the festivities for the 2017 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
“It was pretty crazy being in a major league ballpark and looking up and seeing the stands, and being like, ‘Wow I’m here right now.