Cardinals Bat Boy Greg Ginos is a Clayton Baseball Outfielder

senior Greg Ginos had a dream summer job in mind, but he didn't think he would get it. So when he landed his ideal job as a bat boy with the St. Louis Cardinals, he was at a loss for words.

“It’s the coolest thing that ever happened to me,” Ginos said. “It’s surreal."

To be considered for the position, Ginos had to complete an application to express interest. The criteria for being a bat boy include being 16 years old and having a willingness to work at all home games, according to information provided by the Cardinals.

The Clayton senior has worked five games so far.

“I don’t really associate with the players that much,” he said. “But I get to know the people in the clubhouse really well.”

Although most baseball fans know the bat boy as the person who runs out onto the field to retrieve the bat after a player finishes batting, Ginos can attest to the multifaceted nature of the job.

“I have to show up three or four hours before the game and set up everything in the dugout,” he said. “I also clean laundry and clean shoes.”

Ginos is no stranger to the sport of baseball. He played outfield on a Clayton Greyhounds varsity baseball team that finished the season with a 19-6 mark and placed second in the Suburban East Conference.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Ginos said about varsity baseball. “We had a really good team and some outstanding freshmen (Jake Brown, John Howard and Justin Gellman) really made contributions this year.”  

Clayton baseball coach Craig Sucher called Ginos a hard worker and said his role on the varsity baseball team should expand next year.

“I haven’t had a conversation with him about it yet,” Sucher said about the bat boy job. “But he has the opportunity to see the game up close and pick things up. I bet you he’ll notice that professionals go through many of the same things he does.”