At BRUCE BOLT, we don’t just drop new gear — we tell the story behind every stitch. That story recently took us to the Dominican Republic, where we spent three unforgettable days capturing content with Fernando Tatis Jr. for our newest glove and protective gear launch. But this wasn’t just a shoot. It was a reminder of why we do what we do, who we do it for, and what it really means to BE BETTER.
From Austin to San Pedro: Where the Journey Begins
The trip kicked off like many do — early flights, overstuffed luggage, and that electric pre-production energy. Our crew (Bear, Gard, Courtney, Cannata, Kyle, Zaid, Rory, Jolie) left Austin and linked up with Eric our VP of Sports Marketing, Doug and Paul from our Creative Agency Mojo Media and Leslie and Jamal from our production partners, Cinema Giants in Atlanta. By the time we touched down in Santo Domingo, it was clear: this was a baseball flight. Scouts, strength coaches, and young drafted players — all heading to the DR, where baseball isn’t just a game. It’s the way out. The way up.
After a long delay and our first taste of “island time,” our team split: half headed north to San Francisco de Macorís to meet the Perez Brothers, who run a nonprofit that donates gear to local Dominican players. The other half headed to Playa Nueva Romana to prep for the two-day shoot with Tatis.
Giving Back with the Perez Brothers
In San Francisco, we joined the Perez Brothers for their annual equipment giveaway. Hundreds of local ballplayers showed up, many wearing secondhand cleats and swinging battered bats. We handed out BRUCE BOLT batting gloves and protective gear — some of the first high-end equipment these kids had ever seen. Watching their faces light up reminded us that a glove isn’t just a glove. It’s confidence. It’s belief. It’s a reminder that someone sees your effort and says, “You belong.”
Enter: Tatis
Day one of the shoot began in San Pedro de Macorís — a city that’s produced more Major Leaguers than anywhere else on Earth. Cano. Sosa. Soriano. Fernando Tatis Sr. And now, Fernando Tatis Jr.
There we met his agent Bryan from MVP Sports and his Dominican liaison Pam.
At 11 am a gray Jeep Wagoneer with duct tape on the bumper pulled up. Out stepped Fernando Tatis Jr. — no entourage, no ego. Just a superstar who remembered exactly where he came from. His energy was calm but electric. A national hero back on the streets that raised him.
Our first location? A narrow street lined with colorful houses, where kids peeked from doorways and locals crowded corners just to catch a glimpse. As Fernando slipped into BRUCE BOLT gear — t-shirt, sleeve, headband — you could feel the pride ripple through the block.
Dirt Fields and Big Dreams
From the street, we moved to a field where Fernando once played as a kid. It wasn’t fancy. No turf, no lights, no radar guns. Just a dirt field, dusty bases and heart.
We watched 14 year olds face live BP from 18 year olds with 90 mph arms. No hit trackers. No screens. Just raw talent and grit. In the U.S., players train with private coaches, technology and data analytics. In the DR, they train with urgency. Because by age 10, many kids must choose between school or baseball. By 16 they either sign an international deal — or the dream ends.
Sam, who runs WIN Academy, explained it best: “Our pitchers develop until 19. Everyone else has until 16 to make it.” It’s a different world. One that builds big leaguers not just on ability — but on pressure, sacrifice, and survival.
A Hero Comes Home
Later that day, we captured one of the most emotional parts of the shoot: Fernando walking onto a game in progress. Kids stopped playing. Coaches paused mid-sentence. A hush swept over the field before erupting into cheers. To these young players, he’s not just a role model — he’s proof that someone from their neighborhood can make it all the way.
We spent hours capturing the energy. Tatis gave autographs, posed for selfies, and even jumped in for a few drills. And when it wrapped? He did something none of us expected. He invited us to his home.
Dinner at Tatis’ House
That evening, we drove to Fernando’s house overlooking the ocean. From the outside, it was understated. Inside? One of the most thoughtfully designed homes we’d ever seen — part modern villa, part spiritual retreat. Stone, wood, steel, granite. Every detail was intentional.
He gave us a tour: the batting cage, the barbershop, the weight room, the indoor basketball court. Then we sat down to a homemade Dominican dinner and met his mom, friends, and family.
What struck us most wasn’t the house. It was him. Fernando talked about farming, his love for growing food, his barefoot connection to the Earth. We didn’t just meet the athlete. We met the man. Humble. Grounded. Generous. That night, under the stars on his grass-covered rooftop, we realized this shoot wasn’t about making content. It was about capturing character.
Day Two: Aguila Academy
The next day, we drove through sugarcane fields to reach Aguila Academy — another hotbed for young Dominican talent. There, we shot drone footage of Tatis running across fields, visited the player dorms, and watched 15- and 16-year-olds — some already drafted — compete with the hunger of grown men chasing a dream.
They train from sunup to sundown. Wake at 5:45. Practice. Eat. Repeat. Their “gym” consists of old dumbbells and a lat pulldown machine. And yet, they move with purpose and belief — knowing baseball is more than a sport here. It’s a lifeline.
We even met George Bell Jr., son of the legendary MLB slugger, now a local realtor who gives back by mentoring young players. In a place where so much is improvised, the community is everything.
Wrapping Up: Work + Gratitude
We ended the shoot with our crew capturing B-roll and lifestyle footage while the BRUCE BOLT team returned to the resort for meetings. That night, we shared one last dinner together — grateful, exhausted, inspired.
Some of us even squeezed in a quick round on the par-3 PGA course at the resort. But mostly, we reflected. Not just on the gear we were about to launch — but the why behind it.
More Than a Glove
This trip was more than a content shoot. It was a reminder of where this all started: a teenager in Austin, designing gloves to afford gas money. Eight years later, we’re sitting at Fernando Tatis Jr.’s dinner table in the Dominican Republic, watching kids light up as they pull BRUCE BOLT gear from a box.
We don’t take that lightly.
Every glove, every sleeve, every piece of gear we make is built with intention. Not just for performance, but for what it represents — the work, the belief, the reminder that you’re ready.
This drop with Tatis? It’s not just a product launch.
It’s a story. A connection. A symbol of what’s possible — when you believe in yourself, your people, and your purpose.
From all of us at BRUCE BOLT — thank you, DR. And thank you, Fernando.
Let’s keep getting better.
