RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. -- The chatter was boisterous, as one might expect of a group of 60-plus kids ages 8-13 gathered at a park on a Spring Break day. But then a somewhat imposing man in a genuine Major League Baseball uniform walked onto the field to address them.
Suddenly, someone had the kids' attention. Mostly silence ensued.
It was Nationals manager Dusty Baker, who along with pitchers Giovany Gonzalez and Sammy Solis took some time off from their Spring Training schedule on Friday morning to attend the MLB Play Ball event at the Dan Calloway Recreation Complex not far from The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches where the Nats share their new Spring Training home with the Astros.
This was the second such event that MLB has hosted this spring -- the first was last week in Arizona -- and its primary focus is to show kids the fun, informal ways the game can be played. Activities during the two-hour free event included five activity stations (home run derby, baserunning and an agility drill among them). Mascots from the Astros (Orbit) and Nationals (Screech) also were on hand and each kid received a Play Ball T-shirt and wristband, along with a bat and ball set.
Following the event, the kids were treated to Nathan's hot dogs, too. But to kick it off, they listened to stories from Baker, Gonzalez and Solis about the importance that baseball played in their youth. Their stories were different, but they had the same message.
"It's not an easy road. It's going to be tough, but you can make it if you keep your nose clean, get your good grades, get a sponsor or two that believes in you, then hey, man, you can make it," Baker said.
Gonzalez said that had it not been for his parents allowing him to spend his free time at the local recreation park playing sports and working hard to help pay for him to participate in baseball programs and tournaments, he very well could have been swallowed up by the streets of Hialeah, Fla., where he grew up.
"There was so many outside distractions that I had as a kid, and this is what gave me life back into what I believed in," Gonzalez said. "Now that I see that MLB is doing this and trying to provide it, my God, this is not only great for the kids, but great for the parents."
Gonzalez said he was on board for Friday's event as soon as Baker approached him about attending.
"Us being here could spark these kids' interest in baseball," Gonzalez said. "These parks and recreation bringing superstar talent like Sammy Solis and other athletes who are participating in this event, and Dusty Baker, a true Hall of Famer right there. Imagine as a kid you're getting introduced to one of the greats in baseball and you get to say that going home, 'I can be one of those guys' or 'I can definitely pitch in this game, I want to be a part of that, I want to know if one day I make the big leagues and I run up to Sammy and tell him I was at [Play Ball] when you were there.' That's mind blowing. ... This is incredible."
Solis said he remembers when he was a kid growing up in Phoenix that his father used to take him to Spring Training games every year, which was integral to instilling a love of the game in him. Solis became a big fan of Sammy Sosa, especially since they shared the same first name.
"Idolizing those guys and thinking that they were larger than life, and now being one of those guys and realizing that we're only human, I want to pass along to kids that this is attainable as long as you work very hard," Solis said. "Just being out here and being able to pass that along, I think is important. We just want them to know that we're regular guys. We were standing where they are 15-20 years ago, so it is attainable. They can get here as long as they keep their head down and focus."
Added Baker: "We want to give these kids a chance to see that, hey, a lot of us are just like them."
MLB vice president of youth baseball operations Tony Reagins echoed what Baker, Gonzalez and Solis passed along to the kids on Friday morning. Reagins said the Play Ball events are aimed at allowing the kids to "touch our game" by participating and having fun, as a way to encourage them to be active in the sport. It also allows MLB and its players to visit the communities in hopes of inspiring them.
"Today, Dusty Baker and Gio Gonzalez told their stories and inspired kids to dream, [told them] that they came from situations and backgrounds similar to this, and now they're in the big leagues," Reagins said. "To have kids see that live and in person is totally different than seeing them on TV. This allows us to go into communities and visit, play with the kids, let them listen to music, let them run around and have fun and touch our game. And hopefully at the end of it all, create lifelong fans."