Synopsis for "The Designated Hitter" (Tim Howell)

Barry “The Bolt” Holt woke up from his dream of becoming a major league pitcher a while back. Occasionally a day or two go by when he doesn’t even think about it.

Holt was a “closer” in the minor leagues before he finally called it a career due to various arm ailments. The closer’s role requires a short-term memory to block out negativity. It also requires a kill or be killed mentality, as the game of baseball can be cutthroat.

Holt later learned that these unique gifts could also be handy in a different type of endeavor. Holt has been a contract hit man, or “designated hitter” since he left the game of baseball five years ago.

When Holt’s boss called him up with an assignment that required him to report to a minor league training camp disguised as a minor league hopeful, he was all over it. All Holt had to do was pretend to be on the team for a week or so and then get his man.

It sounded easy enough. Play some ball, do his thing, and then get paid. The only way this gig could go wrong is if Holt actually made the team. No way the sore-armed thirty-something could pull that off.

Little did Holt know that he still had some lightning left in that right arm of his.

Two weeks into minor league camp and his intended target is just as alive as Holt's baseball career. His velocity is up and he’s been lights-out. He's been so good in fact that he has been offered a different type of contract—one that might fast track him to the major leagues.

Finally, Barry Holt is within an arm’s length of fulfilling his lifelong dream. That is, if he can stay alive long enough.

Holt's boss is getting antsy, and if he doesn't produce soon, he will become a target himself. Is Holt's lifelong dream of becoming a big leaguer worth dying for?