(upbeat pop music) (children chattering) - Oh, hey, guys.

I didn't even notice you there.

Welcome to Dickey-Stephens Ballpark, home of the Arkansas Travelers.

And it's a beautiful day today to play ball.

Every year, the Arkansas Travelers partner with Major League Baseball to put on a free clinic for our community and help kids love some baseball.

So we're going to do that today.

We'll show you around, let you see what happens at one of these fun kids clinics.

We'll let you meet some of the coaches.

It's going to be a great day, and most of all, we're going to have a lot of fun, so stick around.

Go Travs.

Hey, coach, how's it goin'?

- How are you?

- Hey, guys, I'm here with Coach Noah Suarez, head coach for Philander Smith Panthers.

Now, you guys just launched your baseball program after 45 years of absence?

- We are starting from the ground up.

- Well, we're certainly glad that you guys came out today and you guys are going to bring your skills and knowledge from Philander Smith.

Can you tell us, why is it so important that we do these kind of youth outreach stuff?

- I think this is a great opportunity for kids from all aspects of life to really come out here, whether they're the richest kid, maybe an inner-city kid, maybe that don't have the money to be able to go to these travel organizations or stuff like that, and just really gives them an opportunity to come out and just learn from higher-ups about the game of baseball.

- You're right.

And that's one of the reasons we make these clinics free, we make it available to all ages, and we make it available to boys and girls 'cause we want everyone to come out here and share the love of baseball.

So thanks again for bringing your guys to share their love of baseball and their knowledge with these youth.

And we hope that the Panthers do great next year.

Go Panthers.

- Go Panthers.

- Hey, coach, how's it goin'?

- How you doing today?

- Hey, guys, I'm here with Coach Sebastian Stargell, head coach for Arkansas Baptist College Buffaloes.

And he's brought some of his players out today to help support the Play Ball Clinic.

We were talking earlier about how important it is to get kids outside and play ball, and Coach Stargell has brought some of his star players to share their knowledge and their skills and drills with our kids today.

And we're so thankful that you came out today, coach.

Can you tell us, why is it so important that we get involved in youth sports?

- Well, it gives them something to look forward to do, especially in the summertime.

You got kids out of school getting a chance to experience different things.

I think they like the group, the comradery.

They play with their friends and you grow up with them.

Same thing I did.

I had friends for life now that I grew up with, and I think baseball kind of develops relationships.

- Tell me, is there any words or inspiration or any words of wisdom that you would give to young baseball players looking to play baseball?

- You got to put a lot into it.

It's not athletic.

It's a lot of thinking involved in it.

It's strategic.

It's almost like checkers or chess.

They make this move.

You make that move.

I like the challenge part of it.

Baseball is like no other sport.

Basketball, you can keep firing at the goal, eventually, go in.

Football, you just go out there and knock somebody loose.

Baseball's a sport where it's from the neck up.

And it's the only sport where if you're 6'5 or 5'2, it don't make a difference.

- That's right.

I always tell kids that I see tall guys and short guys, but they're all professional baseball players and they all have a shot out here.

- Find someone that you feel that knows what they're doing.

It's going to take a little time and just have to put a little work into it.

- Well, coach, thanks so much for coming out today.

Thanks for bringing your guys.

- Oh, yeah.

- And thanks for supporting youth sports here in Arkansas.

Way to go and Go Buffaloes.

Hey, Bradley.

- What's up, Lance?

How are you?

- Thanks for coming today.

- Yeah.

- Hey, guys, I'm here with Bradley Field.

He not only works here at the Travs, but he's helping us with the clinic today.

In fact, Bradley is over here running our hitting section right now.

So Bradley, what are you guys teaching them at the hitting section?

- Try and teach 'em the fundamentals of swinging a bat at a baseball.

Number one thing I keep telling them is your eyes are more important than anything else.

You're seeing the ball and hitting it.

And then from there, it's making those tweaks and getting 'em to send the ball where they want it to go.

- Well, I'm certainly glad you guys are here.

The kids are having a ton of fun today.

But something else that's really cool is, Bradley, you're a dad.

- I am.

- And you brought your son, Callan, out today.

- I did.

- So what's it like bringing your son out here?

- It's fun.

It's enjoyable.

It's special bringing him out here.

It's also like herding cats, but (chuckles) he's having a blast.

He's playing baseball really for the first time other than just hitting on a tee at our house.

So he's getting the chance to interact with other baseball players and have fun doing it.

- And what do you think Callan loves about baseball?

- It's definitely the hot dogs.

It's the hot dogs and it's the music and the mascots.

But he's learning.

He's paying attention to the game more than I thought he would.

So it's just fun to get out to the ballpark.

- Well, we appreciate you being a great dad- - Oh, thanks.

- And inspiring the love of baseball in the next generation.

(upbeat pop music continues) Hey, friends, thanks again for joining us for our annual MLB Play Ball event with the Travelers and the Travs Youth Foundation here at Dickey-Stephens Ballpark.

Join us next year and stay tuned for more Travs baseball.

Go Travs.

(upbeat pop music continues) (attendees chattering)