CINCINNATI -- A large contingent of Reds prospects went into the Cincinnati community to volunteer at three local organizations before they met with thousands of fans over the weekend at FOX Sports Ohio Redsfest presented by PNC Bank.
Hunter Greene, Jimmy Herget, Shed Long, Scott Moss and Tony Santillan visited the Freestore Foodbank and packed meals for area schoolchildren. The "Power Packs" are sent home with students on Friday afternoons to ensure they have something to eat on weekends.
Jeter Downs, Jose Garcia, Vlad Gutierrez, Jose Lopez, Ibandel Isabel and Leandro Santana went to the Academy of Multilingual Immersion Studies to read to students and participate in a Q&A. The Cincinnati Public magnet school offers an immersive language curriculum aimed at fluency in Spanish.
T.J. Friedl, Jonathan India, Tyler Stephenson, Taylor Trammell and Nick Senzel visited Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and met with young patients at the Seacrest Studio (an in-house TV studio) and the hospital's activity center.
This is the second year in a row Senzel has visited Cincinnati Children's Hospital, and his third Redsfest.
"I made sure that I was going to go to Children's Hospital again," said Senzel. "I know it means the world to those kids, and it's a different perspective when you see the troubles they go through on a daily basis and how lucky and blessed we are to do what we do."
Senzel understands the significance of taking time to give back to the community.
"I think it's important for us as players to give back," he said, "because we have a platform that we need to use in a positive way, and being out in the community is very helpful, and it shows that we really, truly care."
This is the third year in a row that the Reds' front office has organized an outreach event for the Minor Leaguers around Redsfest.
"We think it is important that we expose the Minor League players to the Cincinnati community," said Dick Williams, the Reds' president of baseball operations. "They participate in community service events at the affiliates during the season, and when they visit here, we want them to have the same opportunity to give back to the local fans. It is all part of developing a well-rounded player and teammate."
Following the three events, the players stopped by the P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy for a tour and lunch.
"The facility here is beautiful, it's top notch, one of the best in the country," said Greene. "I have a relationship back home with the first academy that started in Compton, and to see this happen and see the academies continue to build and get better is extremely important, and it's special to see."
Greene also knows the importance of giving back to the community where they all hope to be playing soon.
"I always love to come back and give to the community, especially my future community with the Reds," he said. "I get to meet a lot of people and make connections so when I come here to actually play, I know where I want to go and the people I want to reach."