Major League Baseball has announced the 2018 Honorary Bat Girls for each MLB Club in support of the annual "Going To Bat Against Breast Cancer" initiative, which is traditionally commemorated each Mother's Day. For the first time since the Honorary Bat Girl program's start in 2009, Clubs had the opportunity to hand-select their respective honorees, each of whom have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to battling breast cancer. The Honorary Bat Girl for the Royals is Mila Ellsworth from Olathe, Kan.
Mila Ellsworth, a local standout softball player and coaching legend for over 17 years, was diagnosed with breast cancer in March of 2015 at the age of 36. At diagnosis, she was found to have a BRCA 1 mutation and underwent chemotherapy and surgery. Mila has since undergone a lymph bypass surgery due to lymphedema but continues to be monitored by her doctors. In an effort to help others diagnosed with the disease, she has held a fundraiser to support breast cancer research at The University of Kansas Cancer Center. Mila, her husband and three children live in Olathe, where she continues to coach softball players, many of whom have gone on to win state, national and college scholarships and awards. Mila will be honored on-field during pregame ceremonies prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Rays. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Monday night.
"The Royals are thrilled to join Major League Baseball to honor breast cancer advocates from across the country," said Ben Aken, Royals Vice President of Community Relations. "Mila is an inspiration to many in our community, both on and off the softball field, and we look forward to welcoming her and her family to Kauffman Stadium."
During games on Mother's Day around the league, players will wear newly designed caps highlighted by a pink crown and team color brim, while Club uniforms will feature a pink ribbon on the left chest. A matching pair of pink socks is optional for every player. During batting practice and in the dugouts throughout Sunday's games, players and managers can also wear new, grey, lightweight hoodies emblazoned with their Club's wordmark and the MLB logo in a matching pink design. MLB players will continue to have the opportunity to use pink bats during Mother's Day games. Louisville Slugger, the Official Bat of Major League Baseball, will donate proceeds from the sale of their pink bats, which will be stamped with the MLB breast cancer awareness logo, to Susan G. Komen and Stand Up To Cancer. In addition to the pink bats on Mother's Day, the following game equipment can be used for breast cancer awareness: pink compression sleeves, pink batting gloves, pink footwear, pink wrist/elbow/leg guards and catcher's equipment. Since 2006, players have swung pink bats, worn pink ribbon decals and sported pink wristbands through the "Going To Bat Against Breast Cancer" initiative, which is intended to raise awareness and, through donations and auction proceeds, funds to fight breast cancer. MLB will again donate its licensed uniform royalties through Mother's Day apparel to Susan G. Komen and Stand Up To Cancer.
The Honorary Bat Girl program was introduced in 2009 to raise additional awareness and support for the annual "Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer" initiative celebrated on Mother's Day. Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer is a Major League Baseball initiative supported by MLB charitable partners, Stand Up To Cancer and Susan G. Komen. This initiative raises awareness about the breast cancer cause, while also raising funds to support breast cancer research. For more information, please visit HonoraryBatGirl.com.