Welcome to The Pregame Lineup, a weekday newsletter that gets you up to speed on everything you need to know for today’s games, while catching you up on fun and interesting stories you might have missed. Today's edition is brought to you by David Adler.
Travis Kelce is making the jump from football to baseball -- as the newest MLB team owner.
The NFL superstar and three-time Super Bowl champion is joining the Guardians' ownership group as a minority owner, the team announced today.
Kelce might play for the Chiefs in Kansas City, but he's a Cleveland Heights native and grew up a Guardians fan. (He's also a fan of other Cleveland sports teams like the Cavaliers -- he and fiancée Taylor Swift recently sat courtside for Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Cavs and Knicks.)
Now, one of the greatest tight ends of all time is a part-owner of his hometown team.
"Everyone knows how much love I have for this city, so to have the opportunity to come back and join the Guardians' ownership group is the coolest thing in the world," Kelce said. "I've always looked for ways to support and uplift my hometown, so I can't wait to keep sharing the love and the passion I have for sports and this community as we look to bring a World Series title back to the Land."
But wait a minute … that means he's rivals with his own quarterback!
Patrick Mahomes -- Kelce's QB for all three of his Super Bowls -- is a part-owner of the Royals, who are the Guardians' AL Central rivals.
Unlike Kelce bringing it back to his hometown of Cleveland, the Texas-born Mahomes hopped in with his pro town of Kansas City. He joined the Royals' ownership group back in July of 2020.
So even though Mahomes-to-Kelce is one of the greatest connections of all time on the gridiron, the two superstar teammates are now foes on the baseball diamond.
Kelce will be in the house at Progressive Field to celebrate his new role before the Guardians' game against the Tigers on Sunday, June 14.
Kelce's Cleveland fandom produced a viral moment a few years ago when he threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Guardians' 2023 home opener … and spiked it straight into the ground. Not unlike a football, we suppose.
Kelce also talked about joining the Guards on the latest episode of his New Heights podcast with his brother Jason. Listen here >>