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For baseball player Rashid Shepard, the dedication to making it to the big leagues is fueled by both a passion for the game and an incredible support system.

Mom and Dad gifted the MLB hopeful with his first plastic bat and ball at the young age of 2 and it wasn’t long before he was teaching his younger brother how to pitch to him.

“We absolutely spent a lot of time together as a result of his baseball love,” Rashid’s father, Charles Shepard, said in an intimate sit-down on HelloBeautiful’s People Behind The People. “Taking him to countless practices, showcases, tournaments, games. Not to mention the individual work he and I would do together.”

Rashid’s mother and father shared the responsibility of cultivating Rashid’s skill.

While they are divorced, they are a wonderful example of successful co-parenting and continue to support their son’s sports career with equal fervor.

Kelly Owens-Shepard, Rashid’s mother, spent her spare time in the dugout and never missing a summer practice.

“The beautiful part about being a teacher and having a son who likes baseball is that I get my summers off and baseball is in the summer. I was able to dedicate a lot of time, my entire day during the summer was just him,” she said.

Now a college athlete with a promising career on the horizon, Rashid thanked his parents for their guidance and “everything that they’ve done” in an emotional video that moved Kelly and Charles to tears.

“I know he is sincere. He really means that,” Kelly said.

“He’s made me very proud,” Dad Charles added.

With a support system like Kelly and Charles, Rashid will surely make it to the majors. We’ll be watching.

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