The PLAY Campaign kept rolling this week with back-to-back stops in Seattle and Cleveland, giving young athletes a firsthand look at life in pro baseball, straight from the players and medical staff who live it every day.
Seattle Mariners – July 20
Head athletic trainer Kyle Torgerson hosted the event alongside assistant athletic trainers Kevin Orloski and Taylor Bennett. The staff opened the day by leading the kids through a full warmup and stretching routine, the same prep the Mariners themselves go through before first pitch.
From there, infielders Cole Young and Colt Emerson joined the group on the field for hands-on hitting drills, giving the kids a chance to work alongside two of the organization’s rising talents.
Before the on-field work began, the group heard from Don Hooton of the Taylor Hooton Foundation and Christina Julian of Song for Charlie, who spoke to the kids about the message at the heart of the PLAY Campaign — living healthy lifestyles and avoiding performance enhancing drugs and other harmful substances. The day wrapped with autographs from the players for kids from the local Boys and Girls Clubs, a fitting close to an afternoon built around connection as much as baseball.
Cleveland Guardians – July 21
Assistant athletic trainer Chad Wolfe led the Guardians event alongside head athletic trainer Jeff Desjardins, assistant athletic trainer Bobby Ruiz, and first-year assistant Kyla Nickerson. Strength and conditioning coaches Hasani Torres and Nelson Perez hosting activity stations in throughout the day as well.
Rain forced the event indoors, but that turned into an opportunity of its own. Kids from the local RBI league got a rare inside look at the weight room, batting cages, and athletic training room, spaces most fans never see. The staff guided them through warmups, shoulder maintenance programs, hitting in the cages, and footwork and agility drills, giving the group a real taste of a big leaguer’s daily routine.
Pitchers Gavin Williams, Joey Cantillo, and Will Dion sat down with the kids for a Q&A afterward, fielding questions on everything from game day prep to life in the majors. Before the activities got underway, the group heard from Brian Parker of the Taylor Hooton Foundation and Ed Ternan of Song for Charlie.
A huge thank you to the Mariners and Guardians athletic training and performance staffs for hosting these two events and giving these kids a day they won’t forget.
Next up: a busy week ahead with stops at the Pirates, Marlins, and Angels.