The Kansas City Royals welcomed the 2026 National PLAY Campaign to Kauffman Stadium on June 10th, bringing together local youth, MLB sports medicine professionals, and national health advocates for a day of education, activity, and awareness. The event marked another impactful stop on the 2026 PLAY Campaign Summer Tour and featured a first-time appearance from one of the campaign’s newest partners.
The PLAY Campaign — which stands for Promoting a Lifetime of Activity for Youth — is a nationwide initiative presented by the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) in partnership with Major League Baseball, the Taylor Hooton Foundation, Song for Charlie, and longtime supporting sponsor the Henry Schein Cares Foundation.
Now in its second decade, the campaign continues to bring MLB athletic trainers, national partners, and local students together for hands-on educational experiences that go well beyond the ballpark.
Inside the Day at Kauffman Stadium
The event was hosted by Nick Kenney, PBATS President and Director of Medical Administration, who was joined by the Royals athletic training and sports medicine staff throughout the day. The Royals athletic training, strength and conditioning staffs led students through on-field stations designed to educate young athletes on healthy habits, injury prevention, and what it takes to build a long, sustainable career in the sport.
“Events like this are at the heart of what PBATS is all about,” said Nick Kenney, PBATS President and Director of Medical Administration. “We are an educational society at our core, and there is no better way to live that mission than bringing young people into a major league ballpark and giving them the chance to learn directly from our staff and our partners. We are thrilled to have these kids here today.”
The on-field programming drew additional energy from Royals players Jonathan India and Carlos Estevez, who participated alongside students during the station rotations, giving attendees a memorable opportunity to learn and interact directly with big leaguers and Royals’ athletic trainers and strength coaches.
Educational Partner Presentations
The educational component of the day featured presentations from three of the PLAY Campaign’s national partners, each addressing a distinct but connected topic in youth health and wellness.
Christina Julian represented Song for Charlie, the nonprofit dedicated to educating young people and their families about the dangers of counterfeit pills and fentanyl. Song for Charlie’s partnership with the PLAY Campaign continues to bring this critical message to new audiences across the country, and Kauffman Stadium provided another meaningful platform to reach young athletes at a formative stage.
Donald Hooton represented the Taylor Hooton Foundation, which has been a cornerstone PLAY Campaign partner for years. The foundation’s mission to educate athletes, coaches, and parents about the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs and appearance-altering substances remains as relevant as ever, and Hooton’s presentation gave students a direct and honest look at the risks involved.
DJ Yearwood of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids made his debut at a PLAY Campaign event, marking the organization’s first appearance as a presenting partner. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids has long been one of the most recognized advocacy organizations in youth health, and their addition to the 2026 tour brings an important new voice to the lineup; one that resonates particularly in a professional baseball setting where tobacco use has historically been part of the culture.
A Continued Commitment to Youth Health
The Kansas City stop reflected everything the PLAY Campaign has stood for since its launch; a commitment to meeting young athletes where they are, giving them access to professionals who genuinely care about their wellbeing, and sending them home with information that can make a real difference.
For the Royals athletic training staff, the event was an opportunity to extend their work beyond the clubhouse and into the community. For the students in attendance, it was a chance to spend a day at a major league ballpark, learn from the people who keep professional athletes healthy, and hear directly from organizations working to protect their generation.
The 2026 PLAY Campaign continues its summer tour at MLB stadiums across the country. For more information about the campaign and upcoming stops, visit pbats.com or view the full PLAY schedule here.