HOUSTON -- As one of only five players who has played on both Astros World Series championship teams in 2017 and '22, third baseman Alex Bregman's impact on the club since he was called up in '16 has been huge. Houston has made the American League Championship Series in each of Bregman's seven full seasons in the big leagues and he's had so many indelible moments along the way. Off the field, Bregman's impact on the Houston community, and specifically for raising awareness for autism, has been more important than anything he's done on the field. Through his Bregman Cares charity, Bregman has donated iPads to students with autism, provided bats to underprivileged schools and even helped the city at-large by raising $2 million with his #FEEDHOU campaign during COVID-19. He also donated 18,000 cases of bottled water to citizens following the 2021 freeze in Houston. "I feel like we're given a platform and we definitely should try and make the best impact with our platform as we possibly can," Bregman said. |
Major League Baseball this weekend is showcasing the people and pursuits that make them who they are during 2024 Players' Weekend, which began Friday and ends Sunday. The weekend gives players the platform to highlight their interests, backstories, causes and people that are important to them. The focus Saturday is causes, charities and community initiatives that are important to players. Autism has been an important cause to Bregman's heart because of his godson Brady Columbus, who's the son of his close friend and hitting coach, Jason Columbus and his wife, Tish. Bregman has been so inspired by Brady that he wrote "Thank you, Brady" on the patch he wore on the shoulder of his uniform during Players' Weekend in 2017-18. Earlier this season, Brady threw out the ceremonial first pitch, along with the daughter of manager Joe Espada, during the team's third Autism Awareness Day at Minute Maid Park. Viviana, Espada's youngest daughter, was diagnosed with autism in 2017 and has made incredible strides in her social circles and schoolwork in recent years. "He loves baseball," Bregman said of Brady. "He knows about everything about the Astros as anyone could possibly know. He's doing great. He's actually going into middle school now, so it's a big life change right now, but he's going to do great." The primary function of Bregman Cares is raising autism awareness and helping kids in underprivileged communities. |
In February, Bregman and Columbus, who runs the foundation, had the inaugural Bregman Cares Classic at the Astros' Triple-A ballpark in Sugar Land, Texas. Bregman Cares partnered with the Astros Foundation and invited high school juniors and seniors from the Astros' RBI program to play before six junior colleges in Texas. There was a pro-style workout followed by two scrimmages. A handful of kids who participated last year wound up getting offers to play in junior college. "The whole purpose is to try and give these underprivileged kids that can't afford to travel to Georgia for the Wooden Bat Classic or Florida for the Perfect Game events, those types of events, is it gives them somewhere to be seen and bring them in," Columbus said. What's more, kids who had autism helped run the press box during the games. They operated the scoreboard, picked the walk-up songs for the players and served as public address announcers for the day. |
"Those kind of things just show that you might not be able to be on the field, but there are other areas you can be a part of if you love this game," Columbus said. Bregman Cares also holds a Christmas toy drive for families in need with autistic children. Columbus said last year the families were taken to Target and told to load up on what they needed. Eight families got about $1,800-2,000 each in free essentials. "Most of them were buying clothes, comforters, bed sheets, underwear," Columbus said. "It wasn't like they bought a bunch of toys." Bregman would like to expand both focus areas of his foundation -- autism awareness and helping underprivileged families. With in that mind, Columbus said he's began reaching out to local hospitals and seeing how much money they need for autism research. |
"That will be coming in the future," he said. "We're trying to develop in this autism works a website, like a Reddit, where moms and families have a place to go ... and interact and have a support system." Bregman has even bigger plans. "Hopefully one day we'll be able to open up a school for kids with autism in Houston and be able to make the biggest impact we can," he said. |
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