CLEVELAND -- Improving the lives of young people has often been the focus of charitable givebacks from Indians players.
That's why it was no surprise when the Taylor Hooton Foundation announced late last month that Tribe second baseman Jason Kipnis was named to its Advisory Board of active Major League Baseball players for the third consecutive year.
The Taylor Hooton Foundation is widely acknowledged as the leading advocacy group against appearances and use of performance enhancing substances by America's youth. The Advisory Board, which formed in 2014 and is fully endorsed by the league, includes at least one player from 28 of the 30 Major League teams, and recently expanded to a record 38 members.
"Not only does it send a good message about leveling the playing field and competing with who you are and what you got," Kipnis told MLB.com. "But it also sends the right message that you want to be accountable and hold your head high for what you have and not look for the easy way out or cut corners."
Members of the Advisory Board will participate in THF's 2018 public-service campaign, It's All Me. For the campaign, a print PSA featuring each member of the Foundation's Advisory Board has been created, and will appear in the players' respective game program or magazine, among other platforms. Additionally, It's All Me-themed print PSAs will appear in the League Championship Series and World Series programs.
The foundation was formed in 2004 by friends and family of Taylor Hooton, then 17, who died following the use of anabolic steroids. Since its creation, it is dedicated to educating young people about the use of anabolic steroids and other PEDs.
"It's all about working hard for what you want to earn, instead of looking for the shortcut or anything that will give you the advantage up on someone," Kipnis said.
Alonso's BaseBOWL
Following the Indians' 4-3 win against the Angels on Sunday, Yonder Alonso hosted a celebrity bowling tournament -- dubbed BaseBOWL -- at a nearby bowling alley to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland, in which the Indians' first baseman said over 350 people attended.

Prominent athletes, sports personalities and entertainers all attended the event, and a silent auction was held in which various sports memorabilia was bid for. The event raised more than $100,000 and was attended by the majority of the Indians' roster, including manager Terry Francona. 
For Alonso, a Cuban immigrant who moved to the United States during his youth, the cause was extra special.
"I grew up with the Boys & Girls Club when I was younger, when I came to this country," Alonso said. "For me to give back anything that I can is always a good time, but for the first time, giving back to the Boys & Girls Club of Cleveland was the ultimate goal."
Worth noting
• Francona said ahead of the team's Monday bout with the Twins that catcher Yan Gomes participated in running exercises and could be back in the starting lineup as soon as Tuesday.
Gomes was lifted in the fourth inning of Friday's 7-4 loss to the Angels and was diagnosed with right hamstring tendonitis. He's been day to day since. Roberto Perez, who replaced Gomes on Friday, caught the other two games over the weekend.

"The last couple days, he actually said he doesn't really feel it," Francona said. "There was a thought that he could catch tomorrow. ... It's all gonna depend on how he feels when he runs. It's a good thing that he hasn't felt it, and we're really pleased, but we need to see how he feels when he gets going a little bit.
• Veteran right-hander Josh Tomlin is expected to pitch with Double-A Akron on Wednesday as he continues a Minor League rehab assignment. Tomlin, 33, was placed on the 10-day disabled list on July 10 with a strained right hamstring, and began his assignment with Triple-A Columbus on Friday, in which he allowed three runs, two home runs and six hits in two innings.