Jackie Bradley Jr., Craig Kimbrel, Matt Barnes and Teammates Share Field with Special Olympics and Nashoba Learning Group Athletes in Boston

Players from the Red Sox and Rockies helped kids from Special Olympics Massachusetts and the Nashoba Learning Group enjoy a day on the ball field on Wednesday.

Matt Barnes, Craig Kimbrel and Travis Shaw of the Red Sox and Jake McGee and Justin Miller of the visiting Rockies headlined a Players Trust City Clinics event at the Tufts University field for nearly 100 participants from Nashoba Learning Group, which provides individualized education, training and intervention services for students with autism.

City Clinics is a grass-roots effort developed by current Major Leaguers that teaches the game of baseball to under-served children, autistic and physically-challenged youth and children of active military personnel and veterans.

NLG students came ready to learn as they took batting practice, played catch and ran the bases with the players.

“It was a joy to watch the players and volunteers interact with the students with such passion, kindness and enthusiasm,” said Liz Martineau, President of the NLG.

Following the City Clinics event, Barnes, along with teammates Jackie Bradley Jr., Josh Rutledge, Blake Swihart and Chris B. Young hosted 50 athletes from Special Olympics Massachusetts in a Buses for Baseball event on the field during Red Sox batting practice at Fenway Park.

The Buses for Baseball program provides free transportation, game tickets and personal greetings from players to children across the country. The children also receive free souvenirs, food and beverages.

“The SOMA Athletes and chaperones loved the opportunity to be on the field, watch batting practice and get to meet some of the players,” said George Kent of SOMA. “I’m sure the SOMA athletes will tell stories of meeting them for a long time to come.”

The programs took place on one day, but the memories will last a lifetime.

To see more from the event, visit the Players Trust gallery.