Those with the dream jobs helped fuel the dreams of the 86 participants in Benny Agbayani's fourth annual MYTH Foundation baseball clinic yesterday at Central O'ahu Regional Park.

Several of Hawai'i's professional baseball players, former players, a minor league manager and pro scouts helped Agbayani in the day-long event.

"Watching them on TV, you look up to them," said Hawai'i Baptist seventh-grader James Higa, 13, after posing for a photo with Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Brandon League, a 2001 graduate of Saint Louis School. "You want to follow them."

Of course, the autographs and photo opportunities were just bonuses for the 10- to 16-year-olds. They got to hit batting practice pitches from Lenn Sakata, an 11-year big league veteran and manager of the San Francisco Giants' High Single-A club in San Jose. They received hitting tips from a number of pros, such as Kansas City Royals farmhand Kila Ka'aihue (Iolani '02).

"It's like a dream come true coming from people you idolize," said Mililani High freshman Devin Oda, 14.

The thrill was shared by the instructors, who helped keep the atmosphere loose.

"It's great what Benny does for the kids," Ka'aihue said. "There wasn't anything like this for us (when we were kids)."

For one thing, there hasn't been as many pro baseball players in Hawai'i in the past as there has been the past five or six years. There are more than 20 players from Hawai'i high schools now in pro ball, ranging at various minor league levels to the major leagues.

"It's good because these guys play pro ball," noted Zach Manago, 13, of Moanalua Middle School. "They give you good pointers."

The MYTH (Motivate Yourself to The Highest) clinic was one of two around the state yesterday. The Maui Baseball Expo featured Maui's own Kurt Suzuki (Baldwin), who is in the Oakland Athletics' farm system, and Washington Nationals closer Chad Cordero.

Another clinic featuring pro players is Corey's Second Annual Kailua clinic on Jan. 28 and 29. (Call 255-5834 or 781-9362 for information.)

League said the only clinics he recalled attending were ones at the University of Hawai'i and one associated with Hawai'i Winter Baseball, which was conducted by Hideo Nomo and Cal Ripken. League said what makes Agbayani's clinic good is that it is small enough for the players get more personal attention.

Agbayani, who plays for the Nippon Professional Baseball champion Chiba Lotte Marines and leaves for spring training at the end of the month, liked what he saw for the future.

"I see a lot of potential," he said. "Now we have to see if they can take that ability to the next level. But they have to realize it takes a lot of hard work."

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.