Dirk Nowitzki took batting practice and rode the lazy river

Dallas Mavericks superstar forward and noted good dude Dirk Nowitzki hosts a charity baseball event every year that benefits the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation and Heroes Foundation. The 15th edition of the game – formerly hosted by Dallas Stars legend Mike Modano – is set to take place Friday night in Frisco, Texas.

In addition to Dirk, the game will feature the likes of Dez Bryant (as well as a slew of other Cowboys), Rick Carlisle (and many Mavs), former Ranger Michael Young and the first pitch will be thrown out by Dallas’s own JoJo Fletcher of “The Bachelorette” fame.

Nowitzki and everybody else partook in a little batting practice Thursday afternoon at the ballpark (via @DallasMavs):

Any seven-footer digging into the batters box is always going to look fairly goofy, but Dirk’s swing isn’t all that awful considering he’d never even played baseball before hosting the game for the first time back in 2012. The footwork could use a touch-up, but all things considered, not bad!

Wesley Matthews will also be there, and his swing is more of a violent chop (h/t @DallasMavs):

Texas summers tend to be pretty brutal, so after taking a few whacks in the cage Dirk did what anyone else would do: take a dip in the brand new lazy river set up just over the right field wall:

It’s good to be Dirk.