MESA, Ariz. -- Since its inception in 2017, the DREAM Series has been focused on maintaining and uplifting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.¡¯s legacy, highlighting the ideas of Black empowerment in baseball on the weekend commemorating the civil rights leader¡¯s birthday. From the instructors (former and current big leaguers) to the participants (80 elite high school prospects from across the country), working to help young Black baseball players achieve their dream is at the core of every aspect of the event.

Nobody understands that more than Reds starter Hunter Greene, and he¡¯s ready to help any way that he can. Greene was a member of the inaugural DREAM Series in 2017, and one of the most heralded prospects that was a part of the first class. And on Saturday, for the third year, he invited the participants to his house for dinner and to hang out with him and other big leaguers.

¡°It means the world, because I was part of the first DREAM Series,¡± Greene said. ¡°So the event, the camaraderie, the fraternity and the relationships will always hit home for me. Just because I was in their shoes: Throwing the same bullpens, towing the same rubber, hitting in the same batter¡¯s box, getting the same tutelage from the coaches and staff that are here, which I think is unmatched.¡±

Greene met the kids outside the front door as they filed off a couple of buses and greeted them with kind words about how much the DREAM Series meant to him eight years ago, before they broke the threshold of his home. All 80 (even the ones who were return guests) exploded with joy and giddiness at sight of Greene¡¯s new McLaren, the inside of his crib and a world-class chef crew flown in from the White House that was catering the event with soul food.

This year¡¯s iteration was more relaxed by design, as the 2024 visit at Greene¡¯s house included a panel with current big leaguers. Plenty of Major League experience was present again -- Reds outfielder Will Benson, Cincinnati legend Eric Davis, pitchers Simeon Woods Richardson of the Twins, Justin Dunn (who¡¯s in the White Sox organization) and Andre Jackson (who pitches for the Yokohama Bay Stars in Japan¡¯s NPB). But for the majority of the time, the prospects were able to have free rein: watching movies and listening to music, checking out Greene¡¯s personal gym and getting haircuts from his barber.

¡°To be able to have the kids at the house, man, it¡¯s just trying to curate an experience for them just to have fun,¡± Greene said. ¡°To let their hair down, if they want to ask questions, if they want to engage in any conversation about the sport and about how they can just get better in life, or be the best version of themselves. Doesn't have to be about baseball.¡±

In the midst of it all, Greene and the other big leaguers were readily available for any questions and conversations, whether it was specific brain picking on what it takes to make it to the next level, or just talking about life in general. Everything was on the table. At one point, Greene and RJ Cope, a 2026 Vanderbilt University commit, shared a moment to show each other their sketchbooks that they work on in their downtime.

¡°Going to Hunter¡¯s every year is amazing, and it was really great because I did actually get to talk about the drawings that me and him were doing,¡± Cope said. ¡°It was great to connect with him on that part because I honestly didn¡¯t know that he drew. So that¡¯s actually amazing -- it¡¯s just great to know that we have common interests.¡±

¡°It was like a comic book template, it was awesome,¡± Greene said. ¡°And I told him, ¡®Dude, you might be the first, maybe the second person that I¡¯ve ever interacted with that¡¯s actually doing a comic book.¡¯ And I thought that was so dope and different than just sketches, you know? I¡¯m just the boring guy.¡±

That level of comfort can¡¯t be faked. It¡¯s part of the intangible that flows through the DREAM Series. Greene calls it a fraternity, one that transcends the boundaries of baseball, and that doesn¡¯t stop when they walk off the field. Greene, and the other big leaguers on hand, work to make it clear that these kids have them not only as examples to strive for, but as support systems. It¡¯s not just the ability to get all 80 of the prospects new Nike Griffey cleats, or the ability to cater for them with world-class meals, or even the ability to give pitching tips during their bullpen sessions.

It¡¯s about showing up again and again, letting the next generation know that you¡¯re looking out for them, that you want to see them succeed, no matter what.

¡°That¡¯s how it should be,¡± Greene said. ¡°This relationship, or this interaction that I¡¯ve had with them, whether it¡¯s today or even last night, it doesn¡¯t stop there. It¡¯s super important for the guys to know, understand and truly believe that this wasn¡¯t just one night with Hunter, and that¡¯s it.

¡°I¡¯m locked in, and I want to see them be either on my team, or across the field playing against them. So that¡¯s my goal for all of them. And it doesn¡¯t need to be the big leagues. It doesn¡¯t even need to be college. I just want them to be the best version of themselves, thrive and have a great life.¡±