Reds outfielder Tyler Naquin donates batting gloves to Knothole City Tournament players

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Tyler Naquin made an appearance at the Reds Youth Academy Saturday with Bear Mayer, founder and director of Bruce Bolt, a batting glove company. In partnership, the pair donated 200+ high quality batting gloves, the same ones Naquin wears, to kids playing in the Knothole City Baseball Tournament.

"I'd seen the gloves on a kid I was giving lessons to back home in College Station, (Texas), and I ended up getting in contact with the company through another friend and it kind of came about that way," Naquin said of the collaboration. "It's a Texas based company, I really like Bear and what he's about, his family and their story, how it all started and, to top it off, the batting gloves are super awesome."

Mayer began Bruce Bolt in 2018, when he was just 16-years-old. He said he had gotten his first truck and, like every teenager fresh with their license, he forgot about all of the costs that come with a vehicle -- repairs, gas, etc. So, his dad told him what any dad would tell their of-age son: Get a job.

He didn't give him specifics on what kind of job, and because Mayer was so wrapped up in playing baseball himself and attending high school, there didn't seem to be enough feasible time for a job.

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How was he supposed to squeeze that into his already busy schedule, who knew? So, Mayer did what his ambitious young heart desired instead. He started a company involving something he was passionate about, involving something he knew needed attention as it bothered him so much every ball season.

"Naturally, batting gloves came to mind because it's something I've always struggled with because they rip so often," he explained. "I started designing gloves after practices every day and that's how Bruce Bolt came to be."

Bruce Bolt is named after Mayer's grandfather and partnered with several other MLB players, including Harrison Bader, Cardinals; Ian Happ, Cubs; Brett Phillips, Rays; Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil, Mets.

"It means so much (to be out here today with Naquin)," Mayer said. "From the start, I wanted to be able to give back to my community and those around me. Started small in Austin, (Texas) and it's grown as I've made more connections within the league and its players, who luckily have the same mindset. With the help of the Reds organization and Naquin, I'm able to be able to come out and do just that. It's such a humbling experience."

"It means a lot (to me as well), because I was never a part of something like this, but it seems pretty cool and there's a couple kids that, it makes them want to play harder and work harder in whatever they do," Naquin said. "It's fun to come out and see smiles on their faces and watch them play ball."

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This not only has an impact on Cincinnati, but on Naquin too.

"It goes to show that we're human, we just play at a higher level. Some people don't think we're human sometimes," he said. "We want to show these kids that, hey, keep playing hard, keep working hard, treat the game the right way and be a good teammate and you can make it to whatever level you decide to stop playing at."

Naquiin  said that, even while he's battling injury, it's nice to get to relate with everyone who watches him on the big screen. He said that baseball is always a constant, even in the offseason, and it's nice to be able to breathe into a normal atmosphere for a little time here and there.

He hopes to continue doing this for years to come.

"I feel fortunate to be able to do this."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds outfielder donates batting gloves to Knothole City Tournament