The Cleveland Indians will host a Play Ball Clinic on Saturday at Progressive Field from 9-11AM, during which youth participants will play games and learn fundamental baseball skills from some of their favorite Tribe players.
Indians players scheduled to participate include outfielder Michael Brantley, first baseman Mike Napoli, outfielder Rajai Davis, and pitchers Cody Allen and Josh Tomlin; they'll assist with teaching kids throwing, fielding and hitting skills.
The club will host 50 participants ages 9-14, including kids from the Cleveland Baseball Federation, Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland and BBuzz Baseball. The clinic, led by Youth Baseball Development Manager and former big leaguer Matt Kata, gives kids the opportunity to enjoy the game of baseball in a fun environment and introduces kids to the sport who otherwise may not have the chance to experience it.
The Play Ball Clinic continues Play Ball Weekend, which is an extension of MLB's Play Ball initiative. The Play Ball initiative launched in 2015 and continues to be baseball's largest effort to support the growth and participation of baseball and softball. The Indians also will host the club's second annual Fields for the Future on Thursday at Cleveland's Gunning Park, as the leadoff event to Play Ball Weekend locally.
The project is a partnership between the Indians and Community partners (MCPc, Victory Park Ohio, Minutemen and Mo Vaughn Enterprises), the Motz Group, the City of Cleveland, Fox Sports Ohio, WKYC, and the Baseball Tomorrow Fund.
Indians catcher Yan Gomes and his wife, Jenna - who made a financial donation to support the project and serve as the spokespersons for the program -- also will be in attendance.
Volunteers will assemble new bleachers, paint worn seating, install new dugout benches and assist with landscaping projects. Subway is donating lunch for the volunteers.