When the Reds host the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park on August 15-17, players will get to express themselves and bring attention to the causes and passions that inspire them beyond the game during 2025 MLB Players’ Weekend.
Players’ Weekend is all about celebrating players and what makes them one-of-one. Players will showcase their interests and stories through personalized cleats and bats – giving fans a chance to learn more about who they are beyond the field.
Twenty-three Reds players received custom cleats hand-painted by patients and families from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
To create the designs, patients learned about each player’s interests and hobbies. The cleats will be auctioned off after the weekend with proceeds benefiting Cincinnati Children’s.
The idea originated from Reds outfielder TJ Friedl, who regularly visits the hospital during the season.
“Last year was so great with bringing that idea to fruition and then being able to auction the cleats off and raise money for Cincinnati Children’s,” Friedl said. “Now to come back and do it this year, it’s incredible. It means a lot to me and I know it means a lot to all the guys as well. To get to come down here and meet the kids who make our cleats and get to hang out with them and see their artwork that they got to do, and then we get to wear it all weekend, it’s going to be amazing.”
TJ and teammate Spencer Steer visited Cincinnati Children’s to see the cleats up close before wearing them this weekend.
“It was awesome to come out to Cincinnati Children’s and meet the kids who were able to paint the cleats for us,” said Steer. “I’m excited to rock them all weekend. They did a great job, and it’s been a lot of fun to meet them.”
This weekend is also Cincinnati Children’s Weekend at Great American Ball Park, and the Reds are proud to welcome a very large group of employees and their families to the games. Many of the pregame ceremonies will feature and honor representatives from the hospital.
After Players’ Weekend concludes, select game-used, authenticated items will be auctioned to benefit a charitable organization of the player’s choosing. The cleats from Players’ Weekend will be available for auction to benefit Cincinnati Children’s at www.reds.com/auctions.
In addition to the cleats and bats, players will wear special New Era caps featuring a side patch of players’ numbers meant to resemble youthful illustrations where each digit has its own color and design.
