Kansas City Royals Help Players Earn Degrees at Christian College
Leandro Mendez, Jose Ballista and Jesus Reyes never fulfilled their dream of playing Major League Baseball for the Kansas City Royals. But earlier this month, all three graduated from Kansas City Christian College, thanks to help from the team.
Anne Rogers, who covers the Royals, wrote about the accomplishment on the team’s website. In January 2020, Mendez’s professional baseball career was cut short when he was released by the Royals. He had signed with the organization four years earlier out of the Dominican Republic. He pitched for three seasons in the Dominican Summer League, but the Royals have to cut a certain number of players every year, and in 2020, Mendez was one of them.
“It was hard,” he said. “It was a tough conversation. Everybody has the dream to become an MLB player. You want to be like the players you’re watching on TV.”
While the transition out of professional sports can be difficult, some teams have taken steps to better support their players’ futures, recognizing the importance of educational opportunities and holistic development. The Royals’ director of professional and sports development, Jeff Diskin, explained that Mendez had made a strong impression on the staff, especially with his classwork. He might have a potential opportunity for Mendez in the United States.
“I was curious,” Mendez said. “I was hopeful. I had no idea it would be the best decision I have ever made in my life. He told me, ‘I think I can get you to the United States to play some more baseball and, more importantly, get a degree.’”
What Diskin was proposing was an education program the Royals had established a few years earlier for some players released from the organization’s Dominican Academy. This kind of initiative is part of a wider movement in baseball to treat prospects as people first, investing in their lives beyond the field and helping them prepare for their next steps, whatever those may be. Mendez, Ballista and Reyes were identified as students who might do well with an opportunity such as this when they were released because of their work ethic and abilities in the classroom. All three enrolled at Kansas Christian College and have now graduated.
“I can’t even say how happy I am to see those guys accomplish this,” said Randy Fernandez, the Royals’ assistant to Dominican operations. “You don’t see that often down here in the D.R. These kids start playing baseball at a young age. And if they don’t make it, they don’t know what’s going to happen. That’s why we try to encourage these kids: School is part of Plan A. It’s not just about baseball.”
Such programs are especially meaningful for international players, who often face added challenges and uncertainty when their sports careers end. By prioritizing education alongside athletic training, organizations can empower young people to find success in multiple arenas and better navigate the transition out of professional sports. This broader support for player well-being has been echoed across the league, with teams looking for new ways to help prospects thrive both during and after their time in baseball.
Because of their experience, they know that there are opportunities in baseball beyond the field and that they’re equipped for it.
“I never expected to be here,” Reyes said. “Never. When I was a kid, I thought I would grow up and just find a job. In my country, it’s hard. But to see me right here, with a degree in the United States, it’s incredible. I am proud of myself.”
For the Royals, supporting academic achievement helps strengthen their ties to the community and demonstrates a commitment to the personal growth of every player. These efforts are gaining traction as teams recognize that investing in education is vital for building a positive, lasting legacy in sports and beyond.
–Alan Goforth
