On Saturday, June 6th, Petco Park was transformed into something beyond a ballpark. The San Diego Padres community relations and athletic training staff opened the field to a group of young people for the latest edition of the PLAY Campaign, an initiative dedicated to teaching kids about healthy and active lifestyles through hands-on education, expert instruction, and direct access to the professionals who live these principles every day.
The event was organized and led by Head Athletic Trainer Mark Rogow, whose commitment to the PLAY Campaign has made it one of the most substantive health education events the organization offers. Alongside Rogow, Assistant Athletic Trainers Ricky Huerta and Maritza Castro, members of the Padres strength and conditioning staff, and Performance Dietician Hannah Cooper each ran dedicated stations on the field, walking kids through the fundamentals of physical health, movement, nutrition, and recovery. The sessions were interactive and designed to meet kids where they are, translating the science of athletic performance into lessons that resonate beyond the ballpark.
A special thanks is owed to Sarah Wiggins and the Padres community relations staff, whose planning and coordination made the day possible. Events of this scope do not come together without significant behind-the-scenes effort, and the seamless execution of the June 6th program reflects the care and professionalism that the community relations team brings to everything it produces.
Pitchers Take the Mic
For many of the young attendees, the highlight of the day was a Q&A session with Padres pitchers Jason Adam and Nick Pivetta. Both players spoke openly with the kids, fielding questions about their careers, their daily routines, and what it takes to compete at the highest level of professional baseball. Conversations like these carry a weight that no classroom lesson can replicate. Hearing a major league pitcher describe his preparation, his setbacks, and his commitment to his craft gives young people a window into what disciplined, purpose-driven health and performance actually look like in practice.
Adam and Pivetta were generous with their time and candid in their responses, and the energy in the room made clear that the interaction left an impression. That direct connection between professional athletes and the next generation is precisely what the PLAY Campaign is designed to create.
CPR Training on the Field
One of the most practically valuable stations of the day was led by Rhina Paredes and her team from the Eric Paredes Save a Life Foundation, who guided participants through CPR training. Equipping young people with the knowledge and confidence to respond in a cardiac emergency is one of the most meaningful contributions any event can make, and Paredes delivered the instruction with clarity and genuine engagement.
The inclusion of CPR training in the PLAY Campaign reflects the event’s broader commitment to whole-person health education, going beyond fitness and nutrition to give kids tools they may one day use to save a life.
Taylor Hooton Foundation & Song for Charlie
As has become a cherished tradition at PLAY Campaign events, representatives from the Taylor Hooton Foundation were on hand to speak with the kids. Donald Hooton, whose advocacy work has made the Foundation one of the most respected voices in the country on the dangers of appearance and performance-enhancing drugs, addressed the group with the directness and personal conviction that has defined his mission for more than two decades.
The Foundation’s message, grounded in the story of Taylor Hooton and the devastating consequences of steroid use in young athletes, is one that resonates with both kids and parents, and its continued presence at PLAY Campaign events underscores the Padres’ commitment to education that goes beyond the physical.
Additionally, Ed Ternan and his team from Song for Charlie also made a significant contribution to the day’s programming. Song for Charlie is a nonprofit dedicated to educating young people about the dangers of counterfeit pills and fentanyl, a topic that has taken on urgent national importance as the opioid crisis has increasingly claimed young lives.
Ternan and his team brought both knowledge and empathy to their station, meeting kids at an age-appropriate level while communicating the seriousness of what they are facing as they grow up in an environment where these risks are real. The partnership between Song for Charlie and the PLAY Campaign is a natural one, built on a shared belief that informed young people make better decisions, and that access to honest, clear health education can be life-saving.
Positive Coaching Alliance
While the field stations and partner sessions kept the kids engaged throughout the morning, a dedicated session was also held for the parents in attendance. Cheryl Rogow, wife of Head Athletic Trainer Mark Rogow, spoke to parents about the Positive Coaching Alliance and its importance in youth sports. The Positive Coaching Alliance’s mission centers on creating a better sports experience for young athletes by emphasizing effort and improvement over winning at all costs, and by equipping parents and coaches with the tools to reinforce that culture at home and on the sideline. Cheryl’s session was a meaningful addition to the day’s programming, recognizing that the adults in a young athlete’s life are just as important to their development as any coach, trainer, or educator they encounter on the field.
A Day That Reflects the Padres’ Commitment
The June 6th PLAY Campaign event at Petco Park was more than a community relations program. It was a demonstration of what professional sports organizations can offer when they direct their resources, their relationships, and their platforms toward the wellbeing of the communities they serve. From the athletic training and performance staff who designed and ran the field stations, to the players who gave their time and their stories, to the partner organizations who brought expert voices on some of the most pressing health issues facing young people today, every element of the day pointed in the same direction: toward a generation that is better informed, more physically active, and more aware of the choices that shape long-term health.