The Lakes Area Dodgers is a nationally recognized, 501(c)3 non-profit youth baseball club, established in 2002 by Coach John Hodgins and based in Oakland County, Michigan.  The Dodgers pride themselves on developing young athletes and creating opportunities for them to compete at the collegiate level.

Coach John Hodgins (also known as "Hodge") is an MLB scout who has scouted for the Colorado Rockies, Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers.  He played college ball at Oakland Community College and went on to play at Southern Florida University before signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Unfortunately, his career was cut short due to injury.  He then shared his passion for the game with the next generation when he started coaching his children's baseball teams and established the Lakes Area Dodgers baseball club.  He was also a varsity coach at West Bloomfield and Waterford Kettering High Schools and later coached at Jackson College for 5 years, whom he now scouts for.

Coach Hodgins has placed hundreds of high school players onto college rosters, with 5 drafted into the MLB and 1 as an MLB umpire. Based on a player's performance on and off the field, Coach Hodgins will help arrange workouts and campus visits for individual players and work with college coaches and administration to assist with athletic or academic scholarships. He is passionate about giving young ball players the opportunity to reach the next level. You'll see many of his past players come back to help inspire the future generation of players.

Coach Justin is a baseball trainer specializing in pitching and hitting. He played for Coach Hodgins and the Lakes Area Dodgers where he developed into a strong right-handed pitcher. He grew up in Waterford and played baseball at Mott High School, graduating in 2016. He played collegiately at Schoolcraft College. His local roots and collegiate experience have given him a unique perspective as a coach, allowing him to connect to young athletes looking to play college ball. Coach Justin's youthful, relatable approach resonate with the players.

Coach Steve is the son of Coach John Hodgins.  He is a Major and Minor League Umpire.  He grew up in Keego Harbor and was a 4-year varsity player at Brother Rice High School, where he graduated in 2009. He played college ball at Western Kentucky University and Wabash Valley College before attending the Minor League Baseball Umpire Training Academy in 2016.  He is a veteran of the Pioneer League, Appalachian League, Midwest League, Carolina League, and AA Northeast.  He was the recipient of the third annual Dale Ford Umpire of the Year award. Coach Steve brings his wealth of experience and knowledge to the program. He connects with the players through his positive approach and baseball expertise.

Baseball Field at Jaycee Park

Used Exclusively by the Lakes Area Dodgers Organization