The Miami Marlins Foundation teamed up with the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) on July 22 to host a P.L.A.Y. (Promoting a Lifetime of Activity for Youth) Clinic at loanDepot park. The event welcomed 150 kids from local youth organizations for a day filled with movement, education, and inspiration.
P.L.A.Y. was started by Neil Romano, President of the Romano Group, over 20 years ago. The initiative is part of PBATS’ national campaign to combat childhood obesity and promote positive lifestyle habits.
Reflecting on the history of the clinic, Romano said, “For over 20 years, PBATS has recognized the importance of engaging the community on health and wellness, especially young people.
As athletic trainers, we understand the power of baseball, so giving kids the chance to come out to a major league field to work out is both exciting and inspiring. They get to learn about health, wellness, and good nutrition in an atmosphere of fun and play.
The Marlins run one of the best campaigns in the country, and every team takes part in this initiative. The training staff and people at this ballpark are so committed. You rarely see this many players come out and take part. They show real dedication, especially when they could be doing something else.”
Participants ages 8–14 came from the Boys & Girls Club, Overtown Youth Center, SLAM! Miami, and the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana. The clinic offered a unique opportunity to build baseball skills while learning about the importance of health, wellness, and staying active.
Before taking the field, the kids watched the Marlins draft class take part in a practice. Guided by Marlins training staff and players, participants then joined in stretching and movement exercises focused on staying active and healthy. They rotated through four baseball stations: hitting, running, fielding, and pitching, before ending the day with a Q&A session where players shared insights and answered questions about wellness and life in the game.
Marlins’ Director of Athletic Training and Rehabilitation, Corey Tremble, who has been part of PBATS for many years, guided the participants through strength and agility drills along with educational discussions on wellness and responsible decision-making.
Tremble shared, “It’s all about getting kids in the community to come out and play while learning about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and the value of physical activity and making that a priority in their lives.
In my 20 years of professional baseball, and first year with the Marlins, it’s an honor to do this for our community, for our sport, and most importantly for the kids. This has been such a great event over the years, and it’s been special to spearhead it with the Marlins Foundation, PBATS, and Tyler Hooton Foundation.”
Marlins players Connor Norby, Griffin Conine, Lake Bachar, Jesús Tinoco, and Valente Bellozo made a special appearance to support the initiative and lead physical activity sessions, emphasizing the collective effort behind promoting youth wellness through baseball.
“It was really cool having everyone out here. I remember being that young and running around without a care in the world, and when you get older, you miss those times,” said Norby. “So, enjoying that time as a kid, being able to run around with your friends and do cool things like this, it’s really special.
Not everyone gets to go to a Major League ballpark and play games with big league players, and with coaches and staff helping spread awareness to stay active and stay healthy.”
The P.L.A.Y. campaign continues to provide valuable experiences for kids nationwide. For the Marlins, it reflects an ongoing commitment to community impact by creating memorable, educational moments that inspire the next generation to lead active, healthy lives.