The Los Angeles Dodgers’ rare trip to play the Baltimore Orioles this week became memorable when their win on Tuesday clinched a historic 7th straight National League West division title. But it grew even more special for Adam Kolarek on Wednesday.
Kolarek, acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays at the July 31 trade deadline, is from the Baltimore area. His father, Frank Kolarek, still lives in the area and started a nonprofit called League of Dreams.
The charity provides opportunities for people living with disabilities, especially children, to play baseball. Both Kolareks have hosted League of Dreams clinics at Oriole Park in Camden Yards before, when Adam Kolarek pitched for the division rival Rays.
But the timing of the Dodgers’ late-season series in Baltimore allowed them to do so again on Wednesday, per Zach Silver of MLB.com:
Before Wednesday’s tilt, League of Dreams — the nonprofit founded by Frank Kolarek, reliever Adam Kolarek’s father, that seeks to give those living with mental and physical disabilities the chance to play baseball — held another one of its marquee clinics on the field of Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Before the Orioles handed the Dodgers a 7-3 defeat Wednesday night, three current and former Baltimore players also joined the Kolareks in running this clinic.
Orioles outfielder Trey Mancini, pitcher David Hess and retired All-Star shortstop Mike Bordick helped children hit in the batting cages and run the bases, according to Joe Trezzo of MLB.com:
Earlier today, Trey Mancini, Mike Bordick and David Hess helped Dodgers reliever and Baltimore native Adam Kolarek in hosting group home students for a baseball clinic at Oriole Park.
Here's a look: pic.twitter.com/opzsAipTq1
— Joe Trezza (@JoeTrezz) September 11, 2019
Kolarek had spent his entire career with the Rays until this past July, so he is used to pitching in the MLB stadium closest to his childhood home.
Unfortunately, however, the rest of the day did not go as smoothly for Kolarek. He allowed two runs when he appeared in that night’s game, though only one of those runs was earned. It marked the first time since arriving with the Dodgers that Kolarek had given up multiple runs in an outing.
In 19 games with Los Angeles, mainly facing only one or two batters each time, Kolarek has a 0.93 ERA in 9.2 innings. He will likely see action against some of the best left-handed hitters in baseball once the Dodgers reach the postseason and attempt to return to the World Series.
