What is a Baseball Host Parent?

Players and their local families form a bond that doesn't end when the season comes to a
close. As players become a part of a local family, it allows these young men stay grounded and comfortable in an unfamiliar new city.

 For most host families, their guys become more than a player to be a fan of -

they become part of the family.

“Being a host family has truly been a rewarding experience for our entire family,” said San Jose Giants host mother Julie McDonald, in a story for SJGiants.com. “The players that have lived with us have been inspirational role models for our teenage children, with their endless hard work ethic and determination. It has been wonderful to be a small part of their lives as they work towards their dream of playing major league baseball. It is amazing how easily they have all become part of our family, building life-long friendships.


Host families are valuable in minor league baseball because there aren't many eight-figure contracts. The players are mostly teenagers or kids just out of college who need to find a place to stay and establish a life built around baseball. When spring training ends, the team is required to pick up the cost of a few nights in a hotel for minor league players at any level. The player then must quickly find a place to live, and set up his living situation while trying to focus on his baseball career and spending all day every day at the field.

That's where host families fill a big hole. To be a host parent doesn't mean that the player necessarily lives with you, though that is an option with some families, it means you are there to help any way you can. You help provide the basics for their apartments if they need it... from trashcans and shower curtains to paper plates and sheets. A welcome basket of necessities goes far. So does a welcome basket of food...which I'm very much looking forward to making next week when our players come home to Lexington for their first homestand.

Food is super important, especially the first few weeks after spring training, while the guys are getting settled. No one wants to eat hamburgers from the dollar menu every single day, and a home-cooked meal can go very far. Our goal for out players is to take them out to eat once per homestand - to CiCi's, the Golden Corral, Gattitown..buffets are beautiful when trying to feed young hungry fellas! Another goal for us is to provide a meal (with leftovers) every week that they're home to take to the apartments and share with their roommates... lasagna casserole, a chicken dinner ,etc and enough baked goods to keep them smiling. Baking and cooking for others makes me very happy!

Being a host parent also means coming to the game and cheering on your players, just like their mamas would. Cheer, encourage, take pictures.. and meet up with the guys after the game for a hug and supportive smile. The players will not always want to talk, especially if they had a bad game, but being there matters.

Sending the players off is also a big deal for the host parents. Providing a goodie bag of snacks for their road trip, and letting them know they will be missed while they are gone is important. Knowing you have a local family cheering you on means a lot to the guys. It is very touching to see these athletes so humble and sweet..going around hugging all the moms and grandmas goodbye. They aren't just hugging their own host parents either.. the booster club is a family in its own right, and the players are being supported by a whole group of host parents and know it. Many players walk from mom to mom, saying hello, exchanging hugs as they go.

I am very blessed that I have a partner in crime as a host parent... my baseball aficionado boyfriend Clinton. We are teaming up to support our players together. He is in charge of transportation, of helping them find the places to go, places to eat, of being the big brother and encourager. He is also in charge of baseball knowledge, lol, and of the professional pictures taken to send home to the friends, family, and local papers. He is a scout and a sports photographer, so he has the baseball side down. My role is that of simply mama. Feed them as often as I can afford to, and provide all the homey touches they need. Email my (less than professional) pictures to their real moms, text encouragement before their games, and be there for anything they are willing to admit they need.

Every host family is different but this is ours. I don't have room to let the guys live with the kids and I, nor does Clinton, but we do have room in our hearts to make our players part of our family and to support them every step of the way.