Reds, Cincinnati Children’s collaborate to paint cleats for MLB Players’ Weekend 

Armed with colorful paint and their imaginations, patients at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital decorated cleats for Reds players to wear during MLB’s annual Players’ Weekend, August 21-23.

In 2024, the Reds teamed up with Cincinnati Children’s for Players’ Weekend to showcase the players’ personalities beyond the game. Now in its third year of the partnership, CCHMC patients once again painted the cleats based on the players’ interests and their own creativity.

“To the outfield and beyond!” and “You’ve got a friend in the bullpen” was what one young artist named Calvin wrote on Dane Myers’ cleats, in honor of Myers’ favorite animated film, “Toy Story.”

The players will wear these custom shoes in Arizona this weekend. After the series, the cleats will then be put up for bid in an online auction with proceeds benefiting the hospital.

Visiting the patients and seeing the cleats made for him and his teammates is something pitcher Andrew Abbott looks forward to each season.

“I think mine are designed with Christmas colors or just a compilation of the kid’s favorite colors,” Abbott said. “I definitely enjoy coming every time to see the smile on their face when they see somebody walk in the door, regardless if it's me or somebody else. And I just think it's amazing for the kids to have these opportunities.”

When Abbott met with the patients to see the finished products last week, Morgan Deitschel, a child life specialist and creative strategist at Cincinnati Children’s, described the children as starstruck and smiling from cheek to cheek as they followed Abbott around during his visit.

Being involved with the project for the past two years, Deitschel described the excitement of all the patients and how each one uses the day as an artistic outlet.

“We have different patients every year. So some patients who have been regulars here look forward to it. And then new patients, it's something to get them excited for. They look up to these players, they're their idols. So getting to see their artwork on the field is amazing. It's a way to express themselves but also get to showcase who they are in a big way.”

The Reds also teamed up with Devin Young and his local shoe customizing company, D’s Heat Customs, to make the cleats a blank canvas for the kids’ designs. Young has worked with the Reds on this initiative for the past three years and says the experience is rewarding for himself, the players and especially the kids.

“I get prepared, get the shoes delivered to the house and start prepping them,” Young said. “Then, I bring the cleats to the hospital and let the kids do what they do best. And that’s be creative and put these works of art on the cleats.”

Nine-year-old Brynn was ecstatic to hear that she would have the opportunity to paint cleats for the Reds players. She painted All-Star pitcher Chase Burns’ cleats with a vision: cotton candy, a tornado, a jungle, fire, an alien and a blue bunny.

Brynn and her mom, Leslae, have been going to Cincinnati Children’s for nine years, receiving treatment for Brynn’s long-term condition. But still, Brynn enjoys all the “cool things” the hospital offers, like painting cleats for professional baseball players.

Partnerships like these are not only meaningful to the patients, but the parents as well.

“This day means a great deal to me as a parent,” Leslae said. “I saw players in the hospital a few weeks ago, interacting with some of the patients. It’s so cool to see how the Cincinnati community, specifically the Reds, reaches out to the hospital and makes it special for the kids.”

At school, Brynn loves to make handwritten cards for her teachers. Similarly, she gave Burns a special letter with her painted cleats, wishing him luck at his game.

Through this expression of creativity, children like Brynn get to show their passions beyond the world of baseball.

“I want to be a surgery nurse here,” Brynn said. “I want to help people like they help me.”

After being painted, the cleats were brought to Great American Ball Park and lined the clubhouse tunnel for the players to see. The Reds then found their cleats and were greeted by a few of the patients at batting practice.

Elly De La Cruz, Eugenio Suárez, Sal Stewart and Ke’Bryan Hayes met their artists and spoke with them and their families about their artwork. De La Cruz was over the moon seeing his colorful kicks and meeting his artist, whose name was also Ellie.

Stewart signed gear and chatted with the two siblings who each painted one of his cleats.

While not every patient could make it to the ballpark and meet their muse in person, they’ll have the opportunity to see their masterpieces put to use when the Reds take on the Diamondbacks this weekend.

Cleats and additional items worn during Players’ Weekend will be available to bid next week at reds.com/auction.

About MLB Players’ Weekend
MLB Players’ Weekend is all about celebrating players and what makes them one-of-one. Throughout the weekend, players will showcase their interests and stories through personalized bats and cleats -- giving fans a chance to learn more about who they are beyond the field.