Player Initiatives and Programs

Kansas City Royals Players

Salvador Perez

Salvador Perez’s status as one of the most loved and respected athletes in Kansas City history was cemented in 2023 when he was named just the fourth captain in Royals history, and only the second since 1993. He is the strength and soul behind one of the greatest team turnarounds in baseball history.

Around baseball and beyond, Salvy is known for his generosity and kind heart as much as his World Series MVP award and Hall of Fame credentials. Salvy is a shining example of humanitarianism, creating opportunity and better outcomes for the less fortunate in his native Venezuela and here in the United States, with a focus on Healthy and Active Communities, which is one of the key initiatives of Royals Community Impact. His community work has landed him numerous awards, including the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award in 202, the highest community honor in all of Major League Baseball. It recognizes a player who exemplifies extraordinary character, community involvement, and philanthropy, embodying the spirit of the late Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente.

Back home every winter, Salvy and his family pass out bags of food and kitchen supplies to upwards of 2,000 homes in the neediest parts of his hometown of Valencia, Venezuela. He knocks on doors and often goes to the pharmacy for those who need medicine. Over the last decade, he has impacted over 10,000 families who have received much-needed relief.

Furthermore, Salvy has paid for dozens of surgeries for kids with cleft lip, annually gives more than a thousand toys to children’s hospitals, and supports police officers with car repairs, computers, office renovations, and more.

He also regularly travels to Colombia to assist the Carlos Fortuna Foundation in helping adults there be the best parents they can be. During the COVID-19 shutdown, Colombia set strict travel guidelines. Salvy was so determined to help that he crossed the border on foot, at significant personal risk, to be there for the families who counted on him.

In the US, Perez has partnered with multiple organizations fighting against ALS, most notably Sarah’s Soldiers, raising money and awareness to find a cure. Additionally, he works with Brayden’s Hope for Childhood Cancer, which has come to count on Salvy’s generous spirit for dozens of events, often providing once-in-a-lifetime experiences for terminally ill kids.

Beyond those struggling with illness, Salvy has regularly provided support and baseball experiences for teachers and many families of fallen or wounded police officers.

Salvy owns a youth league in Venezuela, where hundreds in Valencia learn to love the game. He provides well-kept fields and professional coaches. At the beginning of each season, the kids are given bags with spikes, running shoes, jerseys, gloves, and financial support for their families. Beyond baseball, Salvy also takes time to speak to each kid about the dangers of drugs, the importance of education, and other critical lessons for successful lives.

In Kansas City, Salvy gave a $1 million foundational donation to the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy, which is one of MLB’s eight youth academies and empowers Kansas City’s urban youth through baseball and softball, as well as academic and social opportunities to become the leaders of tomorrow. Salvy’s donation matches the biggest in the UYA’s history, helping it welcome over 60,000 youth since its inception in 2018. Additionally, Salvy has represented Major League Baseball in many initiatives, including the Nike RBI Program, and regularly donates his time and memorabilia to the Dream Factory.

Salvy has hosted over one hundred kids from Kansas City’s urban core for a baseball clinic and inspirational conversation about education and health. He provided funding for each kid to go home with a backpack filled with necessary school supplies for the upcoming year.

Bobby Witt Jr.

The 2025 Lou Gehrig Award winner and 2025 Roberto Clemente Award finalist, Bobby is known for his infectious charisma and uplifting spirit, which are on display in his play and in his impactful community work.

Bobby is a dedicated advocate for organizations raising awareness and helping fight ALS. The past three seasons, he has hosted clinics for more than 400 local youth, supporting philanthropic groups such as Susanna Smiles, Sarah’s Soldiers, and the Team Hilliard Foundation. In 2024, the three-hour baseball clinic raised over $45,000 to financially support Sarah Nauser and others battling ALS. In addition, he has taken his talents from the diamond to the links in support of the Team Hilliard Foundation Golf Tournament to help raise awareness and funds for ALS research.Each year on Lou Gehrig Day, Bobby helps to organize a suite to honor all those impacted by ALS through these two organizations.

In 2025, Bobby hosted a youth camp in partnership with ProCamps and CommunityAmerica. Through the support of Bobby and CommunityAmerica, the camp proceeds totaled a $50,000 donation to the Edward Dulle Family in collaboration with Susanna Smiles. Susanna Smiles supports families with children facing hardship caused by critical illness or loss of a parent to help lessen the burden and aid prosperity for families.

His passion, energy, and love for the game tabbed Bobby as the first-ever PLAY BALL Ambassador. As part of his ambassadorship, Bobby will continue to be featured in regular content pieces across the PLAY BALL and MLB media channels, providing tips and answering questions to help aid in MLB’s efforts to encourage youth participation in baseball and softball, inspiring the next generation of players and fans. 

Bobby is not only inspiring youth on the field but also in the classroom. He has worked with local youth to help increase literacy rates in the Kansas City Metro as a Royals Literacy League Classroom Champion. Bobby was one of the first to step forward and is entering his third year championing this program that was launched by the Kansas City Royals Foundation and local partners to build excitement around reading and literacy in elementary-aged students in public schools in Kansas City. Bobby inspires both students and faculty to strive to be their best.

The inspiration he provides has carried beyond the coursework by providing life lessons and ways to combat stress through his Bobby Breath. Before stepping into the box, you will often find Bobby taking a deep breath to clear his mind, relax, and refocus. Many of his students now do the same before exams, or before other stressful situations in the classroom and life.

Michael Wacha

Michael Wacha, a 2025 MLBPA Philanthropist of the Year finalist, is a veteran on and off the field. He has over 12 years of major league experience and even more experience in the community. He has been a proud supporter of several organizations throughout his career, such as Big League Impact Foundation, Make-a-Wish, and The Dream Builders Association, with a focus on youth physical and educational success.

Wacha has led many youth camps, including a sports clinic near his hometown in Texarkana the previous two winters. These camps have had over 200 area youth participate, with proceeds from each of the events going to support the local Salvation Army Red Shield Youth Center (formerly Boys and Girls Club). Additionally, Wacha helped with the PBATS Play Clinic in KC, which is a free clinic for 100 area youth to learn baseball drills, nutrition, and the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs.

He continues to look for ways to help address the needs in the community for local youth, including, most recently, working to help increase literacy rates in the Kansas City Metro as a Royals Literacy League Classroom Champion. This program was launched by the Kansas City Royals Foundation and local partners to build excitement around reading and literacy in elementary-aged students in public schools in Kansas City, while providing additional support to, and appreciation for, the educators that serve them. Wacha was one of the first players to step forward, providing the students and faculty with inspiration to continue to do their best. He routinely checks in on the classrooms and is on a first-name basis with many of the kids while helping teach them the importance of reading.

Kris Bubic

Kris has led many community initiatives, from reading with students to visiting with children and their families at the local hospitals. Kris was a leader behind the reverse signing for Royals players following his visit with children at the hospital. The reverse signing featured children of varying health issues coming to The K for a special day of experiences, including signing autographs for the Royals players. In 2025, Kris sported cleats designed by the children at the hospital during Players’ Weekend. One of the starting nine Royals Literacy League Classroom Champions, Kris is a natural, reading with and sharing inspiration for young students to continue on their reading journey, inspiring children on the field, in the classroom, and beyond.

Noah Cameron

A native Missourian, Noah, made an immediate impact on and off the field since arriving in the big leagues. A constant visitor with youth at the Urban Youth Academy (UYA) in his first season, Noah met with different youth from across the region. He also helped lead an equipment drive and shopping spree at a local sporting goods store for area youth with fellow teammates. As a Classroom Champion, he reads with local kids, building excitement around reading and literacy in elementary-aged students in charter and public schools in Kansas City. As a Saint Joseph native, Noah provides a perfect example that if you work hard enough, your dreams can come true, and one day, maybe you can influence the next generation of Royals.

Vinnie Pasquantino

Vinnie has been a strong advocate for the literacy initiative of the Royals to increase literacy rates across the KC Metro. He is a Classroom Champion for the Royals Literacy League, checking in and visiting with the students in his class, and seeing how they are progressing towards increasing their reading proficiency. Additionally, he has hosted a reading day at The K, where he has read to students before games, asked questions, and inspired kids to continue reading.

And Vinnie’s impact goes beyond reading; he also has hosted many youth camps and clinics, supports many Kansas City Royals Foundation fundraisers, including as a coach of the Royals Families team for Queens of the Diamond. He has also joined teammate, Michael Massey, to deliver cards and visit with local military veterans at the Kansas City VA Medical Center. He is a strong advocate for a local pet rescue and showcased the shelter on his bat during Players’ Weekend in 2024. He has gone so far as to host charity events and watch parties with proceeds going to area animal shelters.

Carter Jensen

Debuting late during the 2025 season, Carter has made an immediate impact on Kansas City, hosting youth clinics and food drives for the local community. During the Books and Birds event at the Urban Youth Academy, Carter helped donate turkeys and food boxes to help feed over 500 families during Thanksgiving. He also joined his teammate, and Saint Joseph native, Noah Cameron, as they helped provide support to local youth at a local sporting goods store. Carter immersed himself in the community prior to cracking the big leagues. He supported an Adaptive Clinic in Arizona, visited local youth hospital patients, and built hygiene kits for locals in need. As a Kansas City native, Carter provides the youth inspiration that dreams can come true, while also setting an example off the field and demonstrating the importance of giving back to the community.

Lucas Erceg

In 2025, Lucas Erceg courageously opened up about his journey through addiction and recovery, using his voice to inspire others. He shared his story with more than 100 inmates at Boonville Correctional Center, speaking candidly about sobriety, accountability, and second chances. Several inmates met with him afterward, with one saying the conversation gave him “hope, because there is not a lot of it there.” The impact of Lucas’s honesty has extended far beyond that visit, resonating with audiences across social media and throughout the community. Lucas has also been supportive of local youth in the hospital, joining teammate Kris Bubic for the reverse signing, where players received autographs from the kids battling a variety of diseases.