Kenny Lofton, who has seen many of his fellow players inducted into the Hall of Fame since he retired in 2007, believes he simply played in the wrong era, preventing him from receiving the same recognition in Cooperstown.

Lofton, who was a six-time All-Star and a four-time Gold Glove winner in center field, finished his 18-year career with a batting average of .299, accumulating 2,428 hits and 622 stolen bases. However, he had one major shortcoming: he wasn’t a home run hitter, finishing with only 130 home runs, most of which were hit during the steroid era when power hitting dominated.

“I was overlooked because I played in the age of home runs and performance-enhancing drugs,’’ Lofton explained to YSL News Sports. “That was a significant aspect of the game, yet my contributions seemed undervalued. I focused on getting on base and supporting my team by hitting at the top of the order.

“Today, the focus has shifted solely to launch angles and home runs. Back in my day, I executed my role well.

“It’s disappointing to see where the game has gone.’’

This sentiment played a part in Lofton’s partnership with former Philadelphia Phillies GM Ruben Amaro and his brother, David Amaro, who co-founded Sluggball. This new game, resembling Topgolf but for baseball, will officially launch on May 10 in Trenton, New Jersey, at the Trenton Thunder Ballpark, marking the first of at least six planned events.

Teams comprising six players will compete in tournaments designed to highlight situational hitting skills, which include everything from pulling the ball to hitting it to the opposite field and skillfully placing the ball across the infield.

Sluggball aims to attract former players, especially those from high school and college backgrounds, who want to maintain their baseball involvement competitively but focusing solely on batting, similar to the engaging experience at Topgolf’s driving range.

“In today’s world,” Amaro noted, “new sports like pickleball, 3-on-3 basketball, and Topgolf have emerged. But there’s nothing like that in baseball. Former high school and college players who cherish the joy of hitting have no outlet. We believe there’s a neglected demographic – over three million individuals aged 24 to 35 who enjoyed playing baseball in high school.

“Many of them are turning to softball, which doesn’t quite capture the essence.”

Perhaps Sluggball could revive the appreciation for small-ball strategies, especially with Ichiro Suzuki’s Hall of Fame induction to reflect the importance of precision hitting.

Lofton, now 57, hopes for the best.

“Imagine if a player like Dave Kingman were active now; he would be a superstar,’’ Lofton speculated. “Adam Dunn would command a salary of $50 million a year. The dynamics of the game have transformed significantly. The emphasis on situational hitting has declined. Home runs and strikeouts garner much more excitement.

“When I was introduced to this concept, I found it compelling. I hope it will reignite enthusiasm for situational hitting among current fans and players. Hitting is not solely about home runs; it involves skill and strategy.

“I hope Sluggball reminds everyone of its significance. This exciting aspect of the game has faded from focus. Similar to Ichiro, maybe this will awaken awareness.”

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