Six Major League Players Featured in Campaign that Stresses the Importance of Education

MLBPA launches “Tú Puedes Ser Un MVP” campaign to encourage children and teens to reach their maximum potential and talent by staying in school

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Six Major League Players Featured in Campaign that Stresses the Importance of Education

MLBPA launches “Tú Puedes Ser Un MVP” campaign to encourage children and teens to reach their maximum potential and talent by staying in school

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – In conjunction with the start of the new school year, the Major League Baseball Players Association has launched a campaign featuring six Major League Players to encourage children and teens to prioritize education as way to achieve their goals and dreams for the future.

Titled "Tú Puedes Ser Un MVP," the campaign consists of short videos featuring Sandy Alcantara, Nelson Cruz, Teoscar Hernandez, Christopher Morel, Julio Rodriguez and Juan Soto. Each Player shares his personal journey as a way to encourage kids to do the same with school. The videos, which are less than a minute long, are scheduled to run locally on television, radio and digitally on MLBPA platforms through the end of the year.

“Education is a right that all Dominican boys and girls have and without it, it is very difficult to progress,” said Nelson Cruz. “I believe it is a shared responsibility between the school and the family. The value of education is imbued in me. I come from a family where both parents were teachers and dedicated themselves body and soul to educating hundreds of Dominican children, including their own children. This is why we Dominican baseball players support education and are committed to supporting the MLBPA in this campaign.”

“The ‘Tú Puedes Ser Un MVP’ campaign uses the power of Players’ voices to emphasize the importance of education in the Dominican Republic,” said MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark. “This initiative aligns with our vision for the MLBPA’s expanded presence in the country. It also gives current and former Players an opportunity to stay connected to each other and the game they love while supporting the next generation on and off the field.”

The MLBPA has also enlisted former Major League Players Miguel Batista, Francisco Cordero, and Carlos Gomez to reinforce the educational message by visiting schools in Santo Domingo and Santiago as part of an alliance with Save the Children, a worldwide organization known for its work in defense of children’s rights. Last week, the former Players interacted with 700 first through six grade children and shared their stories of dedication and commitment to athletics and education. The program encourages reading and writing skills, and Players emphasized the need to become an MVP in the classroom.

The MLBPA opened its first international office in the Dominican Republic in December 2022 with the objective of increasing the level of support provided to Players during and after their playing careers.

To view a compilation of the campaign please click here.

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