The PBATS PLAY Campaign continued its 2026 schedule with a busy stretch of events across three cities, bringing together local youth, MLB players, and athletic training staffs to deliver messages that matters well beyond the ballpark.
Houston Astros: 100 Kids, One Powerful Day at the Ballpark
On June 30th, the Houston Astros hosted one of the most energetic PLAY Campaign events of the season, welcoming 100 local kids from the Astros Youth Academy to Daikin Park for an afternoon built around connection, conversation, and community.
Head Athletic Trainer Eric Velazquez and his staff, including Assistant Athletic Trainers Rafael Freitas and Taylor Witczak, organized and hosted the event, bringing the full weight of the Astros sports medicine team to bear on an afternoon designed to give young people access to voices they do not often get to hear up close.
Two outstanding speakers took the stage. Jeremy Bradford represented Song for Charlie, the national nonprofit raising awareness about the dangers of counterfeit pills and fentanyl, and brought a direct and urgent message about the risks facing young people today.
Don Hooton, founder of the Taylor Hooton Foundation, spoke with the authority and passion of someone who has made it his life’s mission to protect young people from the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs and substance abuse. Together, their presentations gave the kids in attendance a frank, honest look at the choices that can define a life.
The event was made even more memorable by the presence of Astros’ Brice Matthews and pitcher AJ Bluebaugh, both of whom addressed the young attendees directly and gave them a rare opportunity to hear from professional athletes about what it actually takes to reach the highest level of the game.
Chicago Cubs: Bringing the PLAY Message to the North Side
Also on June 30th, the Chicago Cubs hosted their own PLAY Campaign event, with the Cubs athletic training staff opening their doors to local Chicago youth for a program centered on education, honest conversation, and the kind of access to professional baseball that leaves a lasting impression.
Director of Medical Services PJ Mainville, Head Athletic Trainer Nick Frangella, and Assistant Athletic Trainers Neil Rampe and German Suncin hosted the event, representing the full Cubs sports medicine staff and reinforcing PBATS’s commitment to using the platform of professional baseball to reach young people in their own communities.
Brian Parker of the Taylor Hooton Foundation delivered a presentation on the dangers of performance-enhancing substances and the importance of making informed, healthy decisions. Christina Julian represented Song for Charlie and spoke about the devastating impact of fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills on young people and families across the country.
The Chicago event was further elevated by an appearance from Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, who took time to speak directly with the young attendees. For local Chicago youth, hearing from one of their own team’s rising stars alongside educators and advocates gave the afternoon’s message an added dimension that is hard to replicate in a classroom setting.
Milwaukee Brewers: Closing the Week in Wisconsin
On July 1st, the Milwaukee Brewers rounded out the three-event stretch with a PLAY Campaign program hosted at American Family Field, welcoming local Milwaukee-area youth for an afternoon that kept the momentum of the week going strong.
Head Athletic Trainer Brad Epstein and his staff, including Assistant Athletic Trainers Lee Meyer, Nick Jensen, and Bryn Hester, organized and hosted the event.
Brian Parker of the Taylor Hooton Foundation returned for the Milwaukee event, continuing the consistent thread of impactful education that ran through the entire week’s programming. Christina Julian was again on hand representing Song for Charlie, building on the momentum from Chicago with the same powerful message delivered to a new audience of Milwaukee-area youth.
The Brewers event also featured appearances from pitcher Quinn Priester and outfielder Brandon Lockridge, both of whom spoke to the kids in attendance. Having two current Brewers players in the room gave the afternoon a charge that only professional baseball can provide, and their willingness to show up and engage with young people reflected the spirit of what the PLAY Campaign is all about.
A Week That Showed What PLAY Is All About
Three events in two days across Houston, Chicago, and Milwaukee demonstrated exactly what the PLAY Campaign was built to do. When PBATS members open their clubhouses, bring in expert voices, and create space for honest conversations about health, safety, and decision-making, something meaningful happens. The kids who attended these events got more than a day at the ballpark. They got a message worth carrying with them.
PBATS extends its deep gratitude to the athletic training staffs of the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, and Milwaukee Brewers for their time, hospitality, and commitment to the next generation. Thanks also go to Jeremy Bradford, Don Hooton, Brian Parker, and Christina Julian for bringing their expertise and heart to every room they walked into this week.
The PLAY Campaign is made possible in part through the generous support of longtime partner Henry Schein Cares, whose commitment to community health and youth wellness continues to help bring this program to ballparks across the country.