Brent Suter is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball, and now he’s stepping up to the plate for ocean conservation as a Team Ocean Captain. Learn more about why he felt moved to play a part in our mission and what he hopes to achieve.
Q: What inspired you to add ocean conservation to your playbook? Was there a defining moment or realization during your time helping others that sparked your interest?
A: I’ve always loved nature, and the planet’s health has been a primary concern in my heart since 2006. The ocean’s health has been specifically added to my playbook since I attended a beach cleanup in the Dominican Republic in 2019. I couldn’t believe the amount of plastic and plastic foam that was washing up on the beaches down there, quite literally trashing paradise. After that, I started learning more about how much heat, toxins and trash the ocean takes on, and I knew I had to do something about it.
Q: As a four-time Roberto Clemente Award nominee, you’re no stranger to making an impact. What unique perspective do you bring to ocean conservation as an MLB athlete?
A: Being a baseball player, a lot of my teammates are from warmer climates surrounded by the ocean, and I want my teammates to have healthy areas to live in for generations. A healthy ocean is essential for that to happen. Also, as an athlete in an internationally popular sport, I have a unique opportunity to help bring people from all over the world to help support ocean conservation.
Q: Between your MLB career and extensive community work, what legacy do you hope to leave for future generations, especially your children?
A: I want to leave this world better than when I entered it, both in my immediate sphere and as a planet. An enormous aspect of me achieving that legacy is to do everything in my power to ensure that our planet is healthy for future generations of all life. I want my kids and their kids to grow up in a beautiful and healthy world, like the one I’ve been blessed to grow up in.
Q: What personal connection drives your commitment to ocean conservation?
A: My personal connection to family, friends and teammates who live near the ocean drives my commitment to ocean conservation. I want them to have healthy shorelines, clean water and vibrant aquatic life all around them. Also, my sheer awe and wonder at the amazing living world of the sea drives me to want to protect that life.
“For me, this really comes down to my kids. My wife just had our third child, and my eldest is just learning to love the game of baseball. Regardless of whether or not he follows in my footsteps as a pro, I want all our kids to be able to enjoy the game that has given me so much, and I think that every athlete would want the same thing. We can all see that the impact of extreme weather on sports is getting worse – whether that’s hurricanes, fire or heat. If we want future generations to play, watch and love sports like we’ve done, we need to protect them. We need to Protect Where We Play.”
– Brent Suter, MLB Athlete and Team Ocean Captain
Q: You bring intensity to every game; how can we bring that same energy to ocean conservation?
A: We can bring sports-like intensity to ocean conservation through ACTION! By joining Team Ocean, you can receive the information needed to see where you most want to help. Next, you can donate funds to Ocean Conservancy! One dollar can remove two pounds of trash, and your donation will fund research and programs that will immediately make an impact. You can sign petitions on ProtectWhereWePlay.com, you can get connected with local cleanups and you can follow Ocean Conservancy’s social channels to stay up to date on everything you can do to help out!
Now it’s your time to step up to the plate. By joining Brent and taking action to #ProtectWhereWePlay, you’re protecting the ocean and the future of the sports and entertainment we all love.
