LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — A program launched by the Lexington Legends continues to help players in their baseball careers.
The team is working with Manual, a prominent mental health technology company.
“The players are far away from home, so this park is a second home to them,” general manager Justin Ferrarella said.
Some have made it into the league, while others are working towards returning.
The Legends are focused on mental health and wellness, and as Ferrarella explains, the team has partnered with Manual, an online wellness service built to improve men’s health.
“Everyone has bad days, some to different degrees, and for some people it’s bad days, so for those people, having this portal to log in and deal with what they need to deal with is a great way,” Ferrarella said.
Manager Greg Zaun remembers doing what he calls “the hard stuff” when he was 19, 20 and 21 years old, so when the Legends ownership group approached him about the online tool, it was a no-brainer.
“If this is a resource that can help steer people away from addiction and suicidal thoughts and help them become more productive adults and members of society, why not do it?”
The manual focuses on young men who may be resistant to more traditional support systems.
Baseball players have little room for error as they work their way through the professional ranks, something Zaun knows all too well, having played in the major leagues from 1995 to 2010.
“As long as I’ve been playing, the difference between success and failure, between making it to the big leagues and staying in the big leagues, is in your head,” Zaun said.
That can take a toll on a baseball player’s daily life on and off the field.
“Even the best hitters fail 70 percent of the time, so it’s a tough thing to deal with,” Zaun said.
Zaun called it a program unique to an Atlantic League club.
“To give our players all the weapons and tools they need to be successful as baseball players and as people,” Zaun said.
It’s an effort that speaks to the Legends’ proactive approach.
Those who fund the Legends and Manuals connection say they’ve been thrilled with the program’s impact.
The Legends are also planning to host a mental health awareness night at the end of the season.
