The relationship between the Boston Red Sox and the Jimmy Fund continues to be strong as today they announced Mitch Moreland as the new team captain.
This weekend was supposed to be filled with a heated series between the Astros and Red Sox with Houston making their way to Fenway Park. As we all know, that isn’t happening and we’re still without baseball in 2020. Though we have the sadness of no season there is still some good news for Boston and that surrounds Mitch Moreland.
Ol’ Mitchy Two-Bags was officially named the 2020 Jimmy Fund Team Captain. The Red Sox infielder will be taking over the mantle from former Boston fan favorite Brock Holt. If you’re anything like me then you’re still trying to recover from Holt leaving for Milwaukee this offseason but this is some awesome news.
If you’ve followed the Red Sox for any amount of time then you know about their relationship with Dana Farber and The Jimmy Fund. The Dana Farber Cancer Institute is one of the leading locations for cancer research and treatment and The Jimmy Fund focuses on the different forms of children’s cancer.
Their relationship with the Red Sox goes back to 1953 and has been strong since day one. Throughout the season there are often different promotions based on game-related stats that can lead to donations as well as a slew of charity events.
The biggest of those events each year is the WEEI-NESN co-promoted radio telethon that spans just 36 hours. During this time Red Sox Nation gets treated to amazing stories from cancer survivors from all walks of life.
Brock was the dictionary definition of being an ambassador, the things he did for Dana Farber and The Jimmy Fund while in Boston were astronomical. Luckily for all parties involved, Mitch is going to be one hell of a representative as well. Moreland does more than just smack dingers while eating steak and potatoes, he also gives a lot of his time to charity.
This past November he and Holt participated in the annual “Champions for Children,” event that was held by the Boston Children’s Hospital. If you’ve ever heard Mitch speak about the game, his charity efforts, or just life in general, he never once gives off the vibe of being a superstar athlete. Some guys you’ll hear talk, and you’d think their heads were on Mars.
Not Mitchy. With him, it’s clear that he wants to use his position in the game and life overall to make things for those around him as best as they can be. That’s just the kind of guy he is, a hard-working everyman that wants to support those that support him.
Moreland re-signed with the Red Sox this past offseason via free agency. He spent the first seven years of his career with the Rangers before finding a home in Boston. His big power and defensive prowess were key in the Red Sox winning the 2018 World Series. His leadership on and off the field will be vital with Boston’s current youth movement in the lineup.
I can’t think of anyone with the Red Sox that would be a better fit as Holt’s successor as Jimmy Fund Captain. With a fresh deal inked for the 2020 season and an option for 2021, we may see Mitchy Two-Bags giving back to the community for quite some time. As we await the beginning of the season, it’s safe to say that Mitch Moreland is already hard at work. Not just preparing for the looming campaign, but to give his absolute all to Dana Farber and The Jimmy Fund.