Jake Hofheimer, right, 17-year-old transgender male plays second baseman and outfielder on the New Roads Jaguars baseball team, jokes around with friend, Jake Boyle, center. © Gail Fisher for ESPN

"I never felt like I fit in the box of female," Hofheimer says. "I didn't know how to express it but I felt like a guy trapped in a girl's body, and that started to surface more when I started to go through puberty." © Gail Fisher for ESPN

Hofheimer has found friendship and a sense of belonging with the guys including Jake Boyle, center, and Wills Price, left. © Gail Fisher for ESPN

The guys on the team have been really understanding, Hofheimer says. They know that because I'm not taking hormones, I'm not as strong and can't play as hard."  © Gail Fisher for ESPN

 Hofheimer spends time with his friend Aliya Biren at a swim club meeting. He swam for years, hopes to get back in the pool after he has top surgery, the removal of his breasts. © Gail Fisher for ESPN

During Spanish class Hofheimer’s group works together on an upcoming project in the courtyard of New Roads, a progressive private high school in Santa Monica, California where kids are encouraged to be who they are.  © Gail Fisher for ESPN

Hofheimer walks his dog Ozzie after school in Larchmont, his affluent neighborhood notable for it’s well-maintained historic homes in Los Angeles. © Gail Fisher for ESPN

Hofheimer enjoys all kinds of sports, even playing by himself in his backyard, with a rare free evening when baseball practice was cancelled. © Gail Fisher for ESPN

Hofheimer holds a photo of himself when he was 10 years old, loved to surf, and compete on the swim team. Now at 17, Jake is a transgender male who loves to swim but finds it challenging because he has not had top surgery. © Gail Fisher for ESPN

Hofheimer has a close relationship with his mother Lisa, left, who said,  “It hasn’t been easy, but we love each other.” © Gail Fisher for ESPN

Hofheimer loves baseball, swimming and all kinds of sports. Like a typical teenage boy’s bedroom, clothes strewn on the floor, he works on his homework as Ozzie, his dog keeps him company. © Gail Fisher for ESPN

“Half the time I think that my teammates forget that I’m trans,” which is why they tease me about my voice." Hofheimer says it is higher than most of the guys which is an insecurity of his, but he doesn't take the teasing personally. © Gail Fisher for ESPN

Josh talks to his son through the dugout screen. He accepts Jake and wants him to be happy, but he took a journey of his own coming to terms with Jake’s identity.  © Gail Fisher for ESPN

Hofheimer takes his turn at the batting cage. “I think it’s important to show the sports world that not all trans people are bad athletes-that there are trans people who enjoy sports and are treated as their gender identity and not as anything else.” © Gail Fisher for ESPN

Even on the baseball field when I’m playing I’m messing with my shirt. I have a lot of dysphoria around my chest, although everyone on the team tells me it doesn’t look like I have a chest, and that I look muscular,” Hofheimer says. © Gail Fisher for ESPN

Lisa Hofheimer attends many of the baseball games though her son Jake, rarely plays. © Gail Fisher for ESPN

As Hofheimer prepares for games, he has more considerations than other guys. He wears a binder in the form of a special tank top to flatten his chest. It can be frustrating for him, an extra layer and uncomfortable. © Gail Fisher for ESPN

“What I like is that people haven’t been treating me differently," Hofheimer says of the increasing attention on his trans identity. "They're still treating me like me, which I'm happy about because I don't want special treatment,"  © Gail Fisher for ESPN

Although Hofheimer does not see the field often, the community around him has been supportive while being challenged including his parents who attend nearly every game.  © Gail Fisher for ESPN

Hofheimer has found acceptance on his team and it’s all about baseball and nothing else according to Lincoln Rosenblood, the team captain of New Roads baseball team.  © Gail Fisher for ESPN

"A lot of my friends on the team have said to me that I'm a guy to them before I'm a trans guy, and that's super validating," Hofheimer says. © Gail Fisher for ESPN

After struggling in middle school to belong, Hofheimer, center, has found a home with his team. "I have the baseball team, I have my friends whom I hang out with on a regular basis. I'm friends with a fair amount of people now, I think." © Gail Fisher for ESPN