Brent Suter was an established member of the community long before he joined the Reds. Having called Cincinnati home before his Major League career and continuing to reside there during the offseason, Brent frequently visited the P&G MLB Reds Youth Academy even while playing for other teams. He made numerous trips throughout his career to speak and work with young athletes at the facility.
Since joining the Reds, his involvement with the Academy has continued. His activities included a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new synthetic infield in April and, during the All-Star break, he brought his family to the Reds Community Fund (RCF) and USA Baseball event, Fun At Bat, where he pitched to kids and held a Q&A session.
Brent's contributions have extended beyond the Academy. He endeared himself quickly to the fan base by joining the Reds Caravan a week after signing his contract in January. This annual offseason event features Reds players, alumni, coaches, Minor Leaguers, broadcasters, executives and mascots traveling to cities across ¡°Reds Country¡± -- Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia and Tennessee. Brent participated in interviews, Q&A sessions and autograph signings at elementary schools, radio affiliates, convention centers and other locations.
The Moeller High School graduate has made several other fan appearances, including a corporate sponsorship brunch, a meet and greet during the annual Owners Weekend at Spring Training, Kids Opening Day, and season-ticket member Kids Club Q&A sessions.
While Brent's active participation with fans is noteworthy, his impact on the community is particularly significant. He engages regularly with Make-A-Wish visits during batting practice, presents a check on behalf of the team to the ALS Triple Play initiative during MLB¡¯s Lou Gehrig Day, and visits patients at Cincinnati Children's Hospital to take photos, answer questions and brighten their days. In September, Brent will return to the hospital to read the children¡¯s book he wrote, "The Binky Bandit."
Brent is also a strong advocate for sustainability efforts. In April, he partnered with La Soupe, a local organization that rescues food set to be wasted and repurposes it into soup and meals for those in need around the city. Most recently, he participated in the Players for the Planet initiative alongside former Reds player Chris Dickerson, helping with planting and gardening in Bond Hill as part of the annual RCF Community Makeover.
Additionally, Brent contributed to the Makeover by underwriting the purchase and delivery of 30 beds through his connection to Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit organization that provides beds for children in need.
One of Brent¡¯s proudest involvements is with the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League, which offers accessible and inclusive baseball fields and recreational opportunities with a big league feel for athletes with special abilities. Brent played for the Hamilton Joes, a local collegiate summer baseball team, during the club¡¯s first two years (2009 and 2010). Through his connection with the Joes, Brent met the late Reds Hall of Famer and longtime broadcaster Joe Nuxhall. Recognizing Nuxhall¡¯s significance to Greater Cincinnati, Brent participated in Miracle League camps during those summers, stayed connected with the program over the years and attended the Miracle Ball fundraiser annually. His commitment continues with recent visits to camps and participation in the organization¡¯s charity golf tournament in August.
While fulfilling his dream job this season as a reliever for his hometown team, Brent has also maintained his unwavering commitment to giving back to the community. As a proud representative of the Reds, he has made a substantial financial contribution to the Reds Community Fund to support their outreach efforts.