SEATTLE -- The Mariners went back to school Friday and their message was clear. While it’s great being a professional baseball player, you need to study and have the right attitude and treat others with respect, no matter where your life leads.

All of the Mariners players fanned out to four different Seattle-area elementary schools for their annual DREAM Team assemblies. DREAM is an acronym for: Drug-free, Respect for yourself and others, Education through reading, Attitude and Motivation.

The players were met with open arms and ears from students who had a chance to listen and interact with them.

“For me, the education part is important,” said Mariners pitcher Wade LeBlanc. “I know when I was that age, all I wanted to do was get out of school. I wanted to be done. But it’s probably the most important thing people need in this country nowadays, is an education.”

LeBlanc walked the talk last winter himself, going back to the University of Alabama to finish his bachelor’s degree in human environmental sciences, a process that took the last three offseasons to complete after he’d been playing pro ball for 13 years.

The 34-year-old said he decided to get his diploma after spending a season pitching in Japan in 2015 while trying to keep his baseball dreams alive.

“When I came back from Japan, I thought my baseball career might be over,” he said. “You start looking into what’s next and realize nothing is next if you don’t have that piece of paper.

“It’s hard to get a job without that [degree] and it’s hard to get into college if you don’t do well in elementary, middle and high school. So it’s good to start working on good habits at a young age.”

Groups of players went to Wing Luke Elementary in Seattle, Hilltop Elementary in Burien, Issaquah Valley Elementary in Issaquah and Madrona Elementary in Sea-Tac.

“It’s really special to be able to go out and inspire and motivate some local youth,” pitcher Marco Gonzales said. “People get a chance to watch us play and I think it’s cool to go out and see them in their schools and just spread the message of respecting others, the importance of education and just being good people.

“You can’t get anywhere in life if you don’t continue to learn and grow. I think that’s the big message.”