Fresh air, sunshine and a guaranteed farmer’s tan are part of the job description — especially when wearing a uniform — but if you ask any of the Ogden Raptors’ four batboys, the best part of showing up to downtown Lindquist Field for a six-game homestand is just that: baseball.

Since the franchise’s inception 32 years ago, the Raptors have enlisted local high school ballplayers to suit up with the pros and fill a pivotal gameday role on the first and third baselines. On Tuesday, Ogden’s latest class of bat boys took the field for the first time this season for a 9-3 win over the Missoula Paddleheads.

If you’re a follower of baseball, you’ve likely witnessed a batboy or two retrieving a foul ball, a discarded bat or an armband, or delivering more baseballs to the umpire while wearing the signature “BB” on their backs. They’ve become synonymous with the game since the late 1800s, and even landed a role in a March 1955 edition of the DC Comics Batman series.

It’s a job that, Ogden field manager Evan Parker admits, comes without credit 99% of the time, but the skipper won’t go a game without taking notice.

DENNIS MONTGOMERY, Standard-Examiner file photo

“They’re behind the scenes,” Parker said. “What they do is not seen by anybody outside the organization. At times, I think what they do can be thankless, but they’re 100% necessary. We love all of them, they’re great kids, they work hard, they ask questions, and our organization is better from the inside out. There are no bad spots.”

Incoming Ogden High senior Gavin Hebdon is the oldest of this year’s lot and perhaps the most-connected batboy of the bunch, despite hanging up his glove. His grandfather, Dave Ackerman, serves as the scoreboard operator for all home games.

Make no mistake, Hebdon is very much a baseball fan and can remember being around the ballpark as far back as he can remember.

It’s not his first run at “batboying,” either, having previously worked with Northridge alum and batboy-turned-equipment-manager Carson Symes in previous seasons. It’s a point of pride to wear a Raptors uniform, Hebdon said, and now he’s leading the pack.

“It’s definitely nice to be wearing this,” Hebdon said.

The remaining three batboys are sophomores Jaxton Searle and Taelon Voorhees, and junior John Painter. They’re all part of Garrett Clark’s baseball program at Fremont High.

No strangers to the game themselves, they’ve also grown up around the game in rec leagues from Farr West, Plain City, and, of course, Ogden.

“What made me want to get the job was just learning more about baseball,” Searle said.

At the high school level, certain postseason matchups, as well as the upcoming Utah All-Star Baseball Game, can give prep players a glimpse of the big-league experience. After surviving his job interview, Painter arrived at the ballpark early to meet his “teammates” and take it all in on the first day.

“The experience of being out on a professional baseball field, it’s really cool,” Painter said. “Not a lot of kids get to have that chance. Just meeting these guys, they looked pretty intimidating, but just meeting them, it’s been very cool.”

All four batboys agree: their service to the Raptors is a point of local pride. They’re up close and personal with the players, sure, but they’re also neighbors and teammates — two boxes the team wants to check whenever the team brings anyone into the clubhouse, Parker said.

“I want locals to feel that same love and affection towards their team,” Parker said. “I’m not the one hiring them; there are qualifications they have to go through. We have a lot of submissions… because it’s kind of a hot commodity for young kids. It’s a cool way to get around the players and our guys and do that type of thing. I know there’s a pretty decent amount of candidates, so I feel like we get the best kids.”

The Raptors continue their first home stand of the season through Sunday afternoon. After that, they return home June 9-14 to host the Great Falls Voyagers for another six-game series at Lindquist Field.

Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net, X @ctbecker and Instagram @standardexaminersports.