Young Abbotsford baseball players will get the chance to learn from several former Major League Baseball players on Saturday.
The Legends for Youth Clinic, run by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, runs from 4 to 6 p.m. at Centennial Baseball Field at Mill Lake Park. It’s open to all local youth from ages six to 16.
Attendees will baseball skills, participate in pitching, catching and baserunning drills and learn life lessons from former MLB players Shawn Chacon, Barry Bonnell, James Lofton and Roy Thomas.
Chacon, a pitcher who was named an MLB all-star in 2003, played in the big leagues from 2001 to 2008 with the Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros. He compiled a career record of 45-61 and collected 36 saves and 619 strikeouts in 269 appearances.
Bonnell, an outfielder and third baseman, played from 1977 to 1986 with the Atlanta Braves, Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners. He collected 833 hits, 56 home runs, 355 runs batted in and had a career batting average of .272 in 976 games.
Thomas pitched from 1977 to 1987 with the Astros, St. Louis Cardinals and Mariners and had a record of 20-11 in 182 career appearances. Lofton suited up in eight games for the Boston Red Sox in 2001.
The clinic is a charitable program running more than 180 free events each year worldwide. Its mission is to promote the game of baseball to youth using positive sports images and personalities.
The evening will conclude with an autograph session featuring the players and giveaways for clinic attendees.
For more information on the event and details on how to register, visit abbotsfordbaseball.ca/mlb-players-alumni-legends-for-youth.