Mariners and Cubs Athletic Training Staffs Host Local Youth for PLAY Campaign
SEATTLE, WA – July 1: Seattle youth take the field for the Mariners’ PLAY Campaign event at T-Mobile Park.
Last week, the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) continued its 2025 PLAY (Promoting a Lifetime of Activity for Youth) Campaign with two high-impact events hosted by the Seattle Mariners on July 1 and the Chicago Cubs on July 2. Held at T-Mobile Park and Wrigley Field respectively, the events welcomed over 200 youth participants combined and focused on encouraging healthy lifestyles, promoting physical activity, and educating kids about the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and counterfeit pills.
July 1 – PLAY Comes to T-Mobile Park with the Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners athletic training staff—led by Kyle Torgerson, Rob Scheidegger, Taylor Bennett, and Kevin Orloski—welcomed more than 150 local kids to T-Mobile Park for an unforgettable morning of hands-on learning and health education. The on-field portion of the event featured baseball-inspired movement stations, injury prevention education, and warm-up routines used by professional athletes. Each activity was led by members of the Mariners’ medical staff, who emphasized the importance of staying active, taking care of your body, and developing healthy habits from a young age.
In addition to the physical activity portion, the event featured impactful educational talks from PBATS’ key partners. Christina Julian from Song for Charlie spoke to the group about the growing dangers of counterfeit pills and fentanyl, equipping kids with tools to make safe, informed decisions about their health. Donald Hooton Jr., President of the Taylor Hooton Foundation, also shared a powerful message about PED awareness, drawing from the foundation’s deeply personal mission to prevent youth steroid abuse and promote fair play.
The Mariners’ PLAY Campaign event was made possible through the support of Henry Schein Cares Foundation, Song for Charlie, and the Taylor Hooton Foundation—three organizations whose long-standing partnership with PBATS has helped bring life-changing education and experiences to ballparks across the country.
July 2 – Cubs and PBATS Inspire the Next Generation at Wrigley Field
Just one day later, the Chicago Cubs welcomed 75 local children to the historic Wrigley Field for their PLAY Campaign event. Cubs athletic trainers PJ Mainville, Nick Frangella, Neil Rampe, and German Suncin led the morning’s programming, guiding the group through a series of fitness stations and health-focused exercises. The goal was simple but powerful: to show kids that living an active, healthy life can be fun and accessible—and that professional baseball players rely on the same principles of movement, nutrition, and rest that young athletes can adopt in their own lives.
In the stands, the Cubs’ guests heard from Ed Ternan, co-founder of Song for Charlie, who shared his personal story and raised awareness about the dangers of fake prescription pills. Like in Seattle, Donald Hooton Jr. represented the Taylor Hooton Foundation with a powerful and honest conversation about steroid abuse and the value of doing things the right way, both on and off the field.
The Cubs event, like the Mariners’ just 24 hours earlier, was the result of collaboration among PBATS, Major League Baseball, and the Campaign’s trusted national partners. Henry Schein’s continued sponsorship of the PLAY Campaign made it possible to bring educational materials, logistical support, and supplies to ensure a safe and memorable experience for all.
PLAY Campaign: A National Movement for Youth Wellness
These two events marked yet another impactful week for the PLAY Campaign, which has now been running for over two decades. At the heart of each event is a commitment to using the power of baseball to educate, empower, and inspire young people across the country. With stops in Seattle and Chicago last week, PBATS and its partners continued to deliver on that promise—equipping kids with the knowledge and support they need to live healthy, active, and informed lives.
As the 2025 PLAY Campaign continues its tour across Major League ballparks this summer, its message remains consistent: health, safety, and fair play matter—on the field and far beyond it. And thanks to the athletic trainers, players, partners, and staff in Seattle and Chicago, hundreds of kids are now better prepared to live by that message.
Coming up this week; a busy day for the campaign with events with the Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, and Milwaukee Brewers.
For more information about the PLAY Campaign, visit https://pbats.com/play/.