Nic laughed at my actions. "Don't listen to him. You're still going through puberty. You'll get bigger and taller as you get older."
I straightened up. "I'm growing. I used to be much smaller."
"And you still made the varsity team?" The tallest pitcher asked, while shaking his head. "Crazy. You're like ninety pounds soaking wet. I don't understand how you can hit anything, especially with a wood bat. If this was a video game, I would report you as a glitch."
I looked up at Rhys, unsure if this guy was making fun of me.
Rhys smiled. "They're just cracking jokes. Size doesn't mean everything."
"Yea, but it helps." The tall guy flexed his biceps. "How else would I be so astounding on the mound?"
"My club team faced a pitcher just last month who was only 5'7" and maybe 150lbs." One of the other pitchers brought up. "He was crazy small, but he could still throw a mean curve. I heard that he was on the varsity team for his high school too."
"Just goes to show that skills matter more than physical appearance."
The tall guy shrugged. "And I'm saying, my pitching got better with size. Imagine if that shorty you played against, got taller and put on a few more pounds. He'd be a beast."
The guys all nodded together.
Nic looked at me. "How tall are your parents?"
I shrugged. "Taller than me."
"How much taller?"
I shrugged again. One is in jail and the other is dead. As far as I remembered, they're both taller than me. By a lot? I thought for a second. "My birth brother is tall."
"Over six foot." Rhys added. "Maybe an inch taller than me."
I looked up at Rhys. "Yea, but I think he's shorter than Zeke."
Rhys shrugged. "That's not the point. He's over six foot so you'll probably be that tall too. God willing."
"Does he play baseball?" One of the guys asked.
I nodded. "He does."
"Any good?"
I nodded again. Everyone says so, after all.
"Better than Zeke?"
Before I could answer, Nic stopped, causing one of the guys to trip.
"Yo, what's wrong?"
Nic looked at me. "Your brother..."
Ah. I know that look. I've already seen it a few times today. Everyone seems star-struck by Jeremy. I should have brought the leftover baseball cards with his autograph on them.
"What's up?" The tall one asked. "You know his brother?"
"You do too!" Nic exclaimed. "Did you see that interview that Jeremy Patterson did after the draft? He was in Minnesota, talking about Zeke Atkins! His brother's brother." Nic looked at me. "You're their mutual brother?!"
I let out a small laugh. "Mutual brother?" I've never heard that before.
We stopped in front of the gym.
Rhys looked around at the four stunned faces. "Okay, okay, I'll let Jake answer a couple of questions before we go in. But once we're inside, all focus should be on your performance. Understand?"
"Yes!" They answered together.