Major Leaguers Alex Bregman and Jake Marisnick Offer Tips and Encouragement to Autistic Youth in Harlem

New York baseball fans weren’t too pleased with Jake Marisnick late last week after he threw out the potential tying run at the plate for the final out in the Houston Astros’ win over the Yankees, but the jeers turned to cheers the following morning when he and teammate Alex Bregman shared their love of the game with a group of autistic kids at a ballfield in Harlem.

The pair of up-and-coming Astros represented the Major League Baseball Players Trust and highlighted the New York Center for Autism Charter School‘s fifth annual baseball event at the DREAM baseball field.

“It’s good to get out here and give back,” Marisnick said. “Alex and I, we’ve kind of been blessed our entire lives and to come out and shed some light and see the excitement in these kids’ eyes is awesome. It’s fun to be a part of.” The event, which has run since 2013, provides an opportunity for dozens of autistic students across the city to play some baseball while getting some pointers and encouragement from major leaguers.

For about an hour, Bregman and Marisnick spent time on the diamond with the kids, playing catch, running the bases and throwing batting practice. Both players’ lives have been touched by autism, which affects nearly one in 68 American children, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Continue reading at PlayersTrust.org.