Homers That Help: Major League Baseball Donating $50 Per Homer To Saints Community Partner, ACES4KIDS, During Final 10 Games

ST. PAUL, MN (September 21, 2021) - The St. Paul Saints have been one of the more prodigious home run hitting teams in Triple-A East this season. They are fourth in the league and have a seven homer game and two, six homer games. All of those long balls are finally going to pay off for a good cause. The Saints, in conjunction with Major League baseball, will be donating money for each home run hit over the final 10 games to ACES4Kids.

During the “Final Stretch,” the last 10 games of the season from September 22-October 3, the Saints are participating in a Triple-A initiative called “Homers That Help.” During those final 10 games Major League Baseball is donating $50 per home run hit by the Saints, and all Triple-A teams, to the charity of their choice. The Saints will be donating their long ball money to a program they’ve worked with for many years, ACES4Kids.

“ACES is proud to stand with the St. Paul Saints in our work to tackle education disparities, and we’re grateful for the club’s continued partnership through the Homers That Help program. After more than a year and a half of disrupted learning, students returning to the classroom this fall need academic and social-emotional support more than ever. As ACES expands to meet this important moment, the Saints are helping unlock our transformative afterschool programming for even more Twin Cities students,” said Christina Saunders, ACES Executive Director.

In addition, Major League Baseball will make a $5,000 donation to the charity selected by the club that hits the most home runs during the Final Stretch. Any ties for the overall leader will be broken by the team with the fewest number of at-bats among the teams that tied for the lead.

“Minor League Baseball teams have long been great community partners, and we are pleased to make a donation to each of these local charities on behalf of our Triple-A teams for their performance during the Triple-A Final Stretch,” said Major League Baseball’s Vice President, Minor League Operations and Development, Peter Woodfork. “These charities provide a variety of valuable services to their community, and it is our honor to recognize their efforts.”

The Saints have hit 170 home runs, tied for ninth most of the 30 Triple-A teams. They have four active players with double-digit home runs with Jimmy Kerrigan leading the way with 19. Of those four, three have set career highs (Kerrigan, Mark Contreras, and Jose Miranda) while Tomás Telis has 11 long balls, tying his career high.

The Saints have worked with ACES4Kids in various forms for more than a decade. Staff and players have visited ACES sites and helped mentor students, participated in fundraising and awareness initiatives, and hosted events for program participants both at the ballpark and other venues. One of the favorite events has taken place annually since 2018 as Saints players and coaches joined ACES students in an evening of bowling and dancing fun at the Island Extreme Bowl at Treasure Island Resort and Casino to celebrate the end of the school year.

ACES (Athletes Committed to Educating Students) is an innovative out-of-school-time program that brings math and social-emotional learning to life for Twin Cities students. Our hands-on curriculum, individual mentorship, and once-in-a-lifetime field trip opportunities help students develop crucial academic and life skills – all through the exciting lens of sports. In partnership with Minnesota’s professional and collegiate sports teams, ACES is tackling the academic opportunity gap and preparing young learners to succeed in school, career, and community.

The Saints are home against the Iowa Cubs, who has given up the second most home runs in Triple-A, at CHS Field from September 22-26, and then take on the Toledo Mud Hens, who are tied for the nineth fewest home runs in Triple-A, at Fifth Third Field from September 29-October 3.