PITTSBURGH -- Joey Bart has shown he can clean up with some lumber in his hands this year. On Friday, he showed he can also clean up with a weed wacker.

Bart was one of seven Pirates players and coaches who took part in cleaning up the three fields at Brighton Heights Park -- which serves hundreds of RBI athletes in the north side of Pittsburgh -- before going 1-for-3 with an RBI single and a walk in Pittsburgh's 8-3 loss to the Royals at PNC Park. Bart, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Bailey Falter, Yasmani Grandal, Jalen Beeks, Ben Heller and third-base coach Mike Rabelo took part in weeding, cutting grass, resurfacing home plates and conditioning the fields.

“Sometimes we take what we do for granted and being able to be out here and see how hard people work and what it takes to run a baseball field, the little things like our grounds crew and what they do every day,” Kiner-Falefa said. “I spit sunflower seeds at shortstop, and the next day, it’s never there, so just the little things and the appreciation and the gratitude. It’s a humbling experience, and I’m glad to be out here.”

The beautification of the fields at Brighton Heights Park was one of five projects the Pirates undertook Friday as part of their Clemente Day of Service. Roberto Clemente Day will be celebrated league-wide this Sunday, but in recent years, the Pirates have had a day to go into the community and give back more. This year’s projects were to support area youth baseball and softball, military support, cancer support, mental health and an annual project to support Pittsburgh’s Latino Community Center.

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Coaches, front-office members and every player on the Pirates’ roster participated.

"It's easier sometimes to often write checks and support things financially, and those things are really important and need to happen to fund projects like this. But it's really great to see people take action, and for us to really be the leaders in doing that and showing others in the community that people need to be doers as well,” said Pirates team president Travis Williams. “It's what Pittsburghers do. It's an honor to be a part in that and hopefully be leaders in that as well."

In addition to Brighton Heights Park, groupings of players went to five other locations: Allegheny Health Network’s Exercise Oncology and Resiliency Center, the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh’s Latino Community Center and Pittsburgh’s Strip District (where they set up a food drive to lend support to 150 veterans and their families) and PNC Park, where they worked with the Gary Sinise Foundation to write letters for World War II veterans.

“It is very gratifying to have a day like today,” said Roberto Clemente Jr., who participated in the Brighton Heights Park project. “This is an extension of how my father lived his life and how he died helping others and making an impact in the community, so here we are today beautifying these fields and making sure the community is well served.”

Clemente’s legacy as a player and a humanitarian has made him a hero on and off the field for many Pittsburghers and players across the sport. This is Kiner-Falefa and Bart’s first year with the Pirates -- and the first year participating in the day of service -- but they already had a great appreciation for the Hall of Fame right fielder. Kiner-Falefa learned more about Clemente and his impact on the organization at the Roberto Clemente Museum in neighboring Lawrenceville, Pa., when he was with the Yankees. Bart has family from Lower Burrell, Pa., and his dad told him stories about his favorite player, Clemente.

“I actually enjoy doing this stuff a lot. You guys can see me having fun with the weed eater,” Bart said with a smile. “Thinking back to when I was a kid, things like this are super important for local organizations. So getting these kids ready to play, and all these people come out here today, get together and get a lot of work done for these kids. So it's super special."

Friday was an example of how even more than 50 years after his passing, Clemente’s impact can still be felt in Pittsburgh.

“He’s a great example of what every Pirate should strive to be,” Kiner-Falefa said.