Ryan Freel Warns Young Players About Steroids

Reported by: Bill Price
Web produced by: Ian Preuth
Contributor: Jason Garrison

Before the Cincinnati Reds take on the Boston Red Sox for a historic series this weekend, some of the players took to the field Friday morning to show youngsters how to be better ball players.

Ryan Freel held a question and answer session for several dozen young ball players taking part in the national "Play Campaign" program at Great American Ball Park.

In one of the sessions, Freel told the participants, "No. It's not for me. Stay away from it, Do you hear me?" The young players shouted back, "Yeah!"

One of Freel's missions during the morning youth training sessions was giving the aspiring young baseball players the low down on why they shouldn't use steroids or other performance enhancing drugs.
   
Freel told 9News, "Just to educate these kids and really let them realize, it's probably going to be put in front of them one day and get them ready for that and what they should say. What are the facts about these drugs and that they need to stay away from it."

Participants in the event also got some strength and conditioning tips while learning how to reduce the risk of sports injuries.

It's part of the Baseball Athletic Trainers Society's national "Play Campaign", to educate youngsters about living and playing healthy without steroids. All of players who attended the event signed pledges to avoid performance enhancing drugs.