SOURCE: Major League Baseball

MARYSVILLE, Ohio, February 24, 2021 /3BL Media/ - Beginning today, the Scotts Company LLC (Scotts) and Major League Baseball will begin accepting submissions for the 2021 Scotts® Field Refurbishment Grant Program, which awards modern, playable youth baseball and softball field refurbishments to four communities in need within the United States. Olympic Softball Gold Medalist Jennie Finch and three-time MLB All-Star Ryan Howard will return as ambassadors, participating in program promotion, field selection and celebration ceremonies. Applications for the sixth installment of the program can be submitted until April 9th on MLB.com/ScottsField.

The four winning organizations will be selected in late spring by a blue-ribbon panel, which will include Finch, Howard and representatives from Scotts and MLB. Repairs and upgrades totaling $200,000 for all four fields will be made during early summer across the United States. Additionally, Scotts and MLB plan to safely celebrate the field refurbishments with each winning community after field work is completed. To be considered, applying organizations must provide programming to youth in underserved areas across the U.S.

“As an athlete and a mom, I’m so inspired by the organizations that submit for these grants and work so hard to provide safe spaces for kids to play and compete,” said Finch. “I’m thrilled to be part of the program again this year and can’t wait to award these field renovations to four very deserving communities.”

“There’s nothing better than getting out on the field and playing baseball with your teammates and friends – it’s something I hope every child has a chance to do,” said Howard, the 2008 World Series Champion and three-time All-Star. “It’s been amazing to see the impact these refurbished fields have had on youth sports in past recipient communities and I can’t wait to get going on this year’s selection process and field renovations.”

“Together, with MLB we created the field refurbishment program so that more kids can have a safe place to play outdoors,” said Ashley Bachmann, vice president of marketing for Scotts. "The program has reached thousands of kids over the last five years. We know these fields have served as a place for youth to hone their skills, both on the field and off, as they experience the benefits of mentorship and a sense of belonging playing alongside their teammates. We can't wait to see this year's kids in action."

MLB and Scotts, a long-time league sponsor, began the Scotts® Field Refurbishment Program in 2016 to provide youth with modern, playable ball fields in communities around the U.S. Not only is the Scotts® Field Refurbishment Program part of the company’s larger GroMoreGood initiative to improve children’s health and well-being through increased connection to greenspaces, but Scotts is also an official partner of MLB’s PLAY BALL initiative, a collective effort to encourage young people and communities to participate in baseball- or softball-related activities, including formal leagues, events and casual forms of play. Over the first five years of the program, the Scotts® Field Refurbishment Program renovated more than two dozen fields across the country; nearly $2 million have been contributed to improving these ballfields.

Driven by a purpose to GroMoreGood, The Scotts Refurbishment Program is part of an enterprise-wide commitment from ScottsMiracle-Gro to connect 10 million children to gardening and outdoor play in communities across the U.S.

To learn more and apply, please visit: MLB.com/ScottsField

About ScottsMiracle-Gro

With approximately $4.1 billion in sales, the Company is one of the world's largest marketers of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care. The Company's brands are among the most recognized in the industry. The Company's Scotts®, Miracle-Gro® and Ortho® brands are market-leading in their categories. The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, The Hawthorne Gardening Company, is a leading provider of nutrients, lighting and other materials used in the indoor and hydroponic growing segment. For additional information, visit us at www.scottsmiraclegro.com.

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Contact: Kerline Batista, Major League Baseball, (929) 494-4882, kerline.batista@mlb.com

KEYWORDS: MLB, JENNIE FINCH, Ryan Howard, ScottsMiracle-Gro