This story was excerpted from Mandy Bell’s Guardians Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Whether they’re new to the team or they’ve been with the Guardians for a handful of years, players are eager to make an impact in the community this year.
Cleveland announced a slew of programs its players are set to take part in -- 17 different charitable initiatives -- including nine new ideas for this season. And after Triston McKenzie already had his True2U Mentorship and was heavily involved in Guardians Chess Club, he decided to add another idea to the mix: Friday Fireworks with Triston.
“I think the fans show a great love for us,” McKenzie said. “It’s not our job, but it’s something we can do to just give back to the community and show love for them like they show love for us.”
McKenzie will partner with the Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Ohio to provide a group of local youth with tickets and meal vouchers to Friday Fireworks games this summer. This will be separate from his work with teenagers from Valley View Boys Leadership Academy in his True 2U Mentorship Program, which has been around since 2021.
“It’s kind of a turbulent time for 13- to 14-, 15-year-olds,” McKenzie said. I think being able to be a positive influence in that aspect of their lives -- hopefully I can get them to make some better choices or if they second guess some of the things they’re doing, some of the people they’re hanging out with or on top of that, if they’re just having an escape for whatever’s going on in that day.”
McKenzie has been a leader in the Guardians’ clubhouse when it comes to reaching out to the community. Along with the True2U Mentorship Program and the fireworks nights, he’s still actively involved in the Guardians Chess Club with Josh Bell, Steven Kwan, Bo Naylor and others, challenging local high school chess clubs to matches.
“Hold my own with those kids? I’m gonna need a lot more practice. A lot more practice,” McKenzie said, joking about his chess skills. “I’ve gotten a little better, but I’m nowhere near on that level.”
Now, nearly everyone in the clubhouse has an initiative. Oscar Gonzalez will be working with the Ronald McDonald House this year and will be hosting an equipment drive in his hometown of Palenque in the Dominican Republic. Andrés Giménez will join participants in drawing or painting classes for Art with Andrés. Amed Rosario is beginning Amed’s Animals, which will allow him to spend time with animals in the Cleveland area with the Cleveland Zoological Society. Cal Quantrill, along with his current Letters with Love initiative that sends encouraging letters to local foster children, will also give back to youth with Quantrill Cares.
Josh Naylor already started cooking for patients and their families at the Ronald McDonald House. Newcomer Mike Zunino will start Home Runs for a Cure, partnering with the Cleveland Clinic to donate to VeloSano for every home run he hits this season. He’ll also host patients and their families at a game each month.
“I think the further you go along in your career, you realize the impact you can make goes further than just the game of baseball,” Zunino said. “It’s something that I’ve wanted to do, and I thought, ‘Why not?’ It’s something that our family wanted to do and I’m glad the Guardians helped me grow some legs on this and helped me get this off and running and contributed to a great cause.”
This is just naming a few of the things the Guardians will be doing behind the scenes this year. While it’s not uncommon for players to be heavily involved in their communities, Cleveland’s participation this year is unmatched. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that McKenzie in just his third full big league season is already taking on his third program.
“If I can change one person’s day when I go to any one of these events,” McKenzie said, “I feel like I made an impact.”