Recognizing McKinstry's quiet ministry to homeless, kids

This story was excerpted from Jason Beck's Tigers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Like all Major League players, Zach McKinstry has a daily offseason routine to get his body ready for the next campaign, from strength and conditioning to hitting and throwing. Unlike a lot of players, he also has a routine to help strengthen the soul.

Every Monday when McKinstry is at his offseason home in Arizona, he’ll serve meals at BBQ Mission, a Phoenix-based nonprofit that feeds unhoused members of the community. He has done this for the last five years.

“One of my Little League coaches runs that, and I’m proud of it,” McKinstry said, “so I’ve been going down there every Monday in the offseasons in Phoenix to feed the homeless. It’s been a lot of fun, and it’s grabbed my faith a little bit and I’ve met a lot of really good people through it. …

“Just giving back to the homeless, feeding them and just being able to spread the love of Jesus through a meal. We have prayer tents, come down and pray for them. You just build some relationships there, see familiar faces and get to know names, and it’s pretty cool.”

McKinstry doesn’t do it for attention, nor does he seek publicity for the work he does to help the NW Futures School of Development.

“I’m supporting one of the kids that plays for the travel team,” McKinstry said. “I’m helping him get to and from practices and stuff like that. It’s a pretty cool experience. I’ve been able to go up to their charity events and speak and do some silent auction stuff for them.”

The silent part seemed fitting until this week, when the MLB Players Association recognized his work by naming him their Most Valuable Philanthropist for April. According to the MLBPA, the monthly award goes to a player who demonstrates an altruistic spirit and positive impact beyond the diamond. It includes a $10,000 grant in McKinstry’s name, which he said will go to both of his causes.

“I was super grateful,” said McKinstry, who also supports camps in his hometown of Fort Wayne, Ind. “They’re giving me some money to give to the charities. That’s super awesome, very humbling for them to do that for me.”

They also happened to announce the award on Tuesday, McKinstry’s 30th birthday. He’s one of the few thirty-somethings in an overwhelmingly young Tigers clubhouse. But between his hot start on the field and his incredible work off the field, he doesn’t feel old.

“My soul still feels like I’m 12 years old,” he joked.