MLB Naming Ken Griffey Jr As A Senior Advisor To Rob Manfred Is A Home Run

Wait a minute, do we have a smart move here by baseball and Rob Manfred? Is this actually something that may help the game instead of damage it even more?!?! MLB announced Friday that Ken Griffey Jr will take a special role with Rob Manfred as a senior advisor. His main concentration will be on baseball operations, improving diversity within the game, and youth development all around the game. 

I mean I can't think of a better choice for a role like this. It's no secret that less African Americans are playing baseball than ever before, with just 7.8% of players on Opening Day rosters last year being African American, and that is with expanded rosters. Who better to be an ambassador for the game of baseball to the young, African American population than Griffey Jr? You may be wondering who the first big person was to wear 42 on every Jackie Robinson day to honor the legend himself, yup, that was Ken. Can't think of a better move. 

He's also going to be involved in youth development to try and get more kids playing baseball, who better to try and convince kids than The Kid himself? The guy who at the ripe age of 19 stepped onto an MLB field for the first time. The guy who rocked the backwards hat like the kids do, the guy who had his own signature shoe that all the kids wanted, the guy who had the video games that kids still play today, the guy who grew up in a Major League clubhouse and knows how to get the kids involved in baseball. Like he said on MLB Network above, it's the greatest sport in the world and he wants to get kids back playing. He has experience on both sides of the fence, being a young youth playing this game over the other sports, but also having a son who went on to play college football instead of pursuing a career in baseball like his father. You see a picture or video of Ken Griffey Jr with his hat backwards, the sick cleats, the swag, the swing, and you realize there is no one out there better to focus on the youth to get them more involved in this sport. 

Coupled with Theo Epstein's recent hire, I really like these moves and think they are on to something. Two guys who are lifelong baseball people with some damn good ideas. I just hope Manfred and the league listens to them and their experiences. I think this is a really cool movement by MLB, probably a few years too late, but better late than never I guess. It's also going to be awesome seeing Ken at the events like All Star Game, postseason games, and other big games promoting all his ideas. Welcome back to baseball, Kid.