TAMPA BASEBALL CLINIC

Batter Up: Tampa youth step up to the plate at Derek Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation Baseball Clinic

Former MLB All-Star and World Series Champion Gary Sheffield joined as special guest speaker, sharing life lessons on and off the field with local children

Local children in Tampa gained valuable life skills while rounding the bases during Derek Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation’s Tampa Baseball Clinic, a free three-day program that teaches participants baseball fundamentals paired with meaningful life lessons.

The clinic was held at the Police Athletic League and was organized by The Turn 2 Foundation in partnership with the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department.

“The skills these young athletes have learned throughout this week – including leadership, teamwork, commitment and persistence – are important lessons that can also be applied off the field and in their daily lives,” said Sharlee Jeter, president of The Turn 2 Foundation. “These are important values that we work to instill in the youth we serve across Turn 2’s programs. We are grateful to Gary Sheffield for taking the time to join us as our guest speaker and inspiring the group by offering invaluable guidance. We’d also like to thank our partners and sponsors for their ongoing support of our Foundation’s mission.”

Gary Sheffield – a nine-time MLB All-Star, World Series champion, Silver Slugger Award winner and sports agent – joined this year’s clinic as the special guest speaker. Sheffield shared his experiences playing baseball and some of the most important lessons he learned throughout his career.

“I’m honored to participate in this impactful program in the Tampa community, a place where I grew up and first discovered my passion for baseball," Sheffield said. “It’s so important for youth to feel supported, and The Turn 2 Foundation continues to provide enriching opportunities that empower young people to build self-confidence, aim high and work hard to achieve their dreams. Turn 2 does incredible work in the community and I am proud to have played a part in this event.”

Throughout the clinic, local coaches taught the children basic baseball fundamentals, such as throwing, hitting, running, catching and fielding techniques, while sharing essential values from Derek Jeter’s autobiography, The Life You Imagine, which focuses on setting youth on a healthy, successful path.