This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon’s Reds Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
GOODYEAR, Ariz. – It's about the only time during Spring Training when Reds players, managers, coaches, executives and staff from both the Major Leagues and Minor Leagues are gathered together without any sounds of baseball.
For one hour on Monday morning, those usual activities were stopped for a special reason.
In what has become an annual tradition at Reds camp, the organization paused to hold a high school graduation ceremony for seven of their Minor League players who earned their diplomas.
“This is one of my favorite days of the year. It’s amazing how everybody comes out to show support," Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said.
Recognized for their achievements were Jesus Colina, Abraham Gaitan, Hansel Jimenez (No. 30), Nailbel Mariano, Jose Montero, Yael Romero and Yeycol Soriano. All wore caps and gowns fitting for any other graduation, except their sashes had a Reds logo, and walked into the ceremony outside the main complex building to the music of "Pomp and Circumstance."
There were five other graduates not present because they were either no longer in the organization or in the Dominican Republic. They were Yojaser Calzado, Ariel de la Cruz, Jean Díaz, Adrian Reyes and Sebastian Salazar.
Since its inception in 2019, the Cincinnati Reds High School program has graduated 44 current and former players. It's done in partnership with Dawere International High School, which offers a Spanish-speaking adult online education program of 21 classes that include U.S. history, math, chemistry and physics. The diplomas are registered in Florida and all of the classes are accredited.
Even players that are released by the club are able to continue in the program to complete their degrees. While English language lessons are an organizational requirement for the young prospects, high school degrees are not compulsory.
But going through the program requires a lot of extra initiative and effort. Players have to carve out time for studying on off-days, around their game schedules or workouts.
Student players either take their classes over Zoom, or in person with educators from the organization's wellness and education department led by education coordinator Kaitlin Beltre.
“Your families and your Reds family are extremely proud of you," Beltre told the graduates.
That was demonstrated during a montage of personal videos from family members that was played congratulating the graduates.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the newly minted graduates flung their caps in the air in celebration.
“This continues to be one of the best events of the year. Fellas, on behalf of the organization, and specifically player development, Congratulations. I’m proud of you," player development director Jeremy Farrell said. "Keep going. Just remember that education is something that can never be taken away from you, no matter how long you’re playing in your professional career. Education is important and can take you where you want to go in life.”