SAN FRANCISCO — In a fiercely competitive MLB summer, where every pitch can decide a career, Ryan Walker – pitcher of the San Francisco Giants – is honored not for his impressive strikeout numbers or ERA.
But for… an old glove and a promise from his days as a poor kid.
“Philanthropist of the Month” – but he never needed one
Last week, the Players Trust officially named Ryan Walker as its “Philanthropist of the Month,” the founder of Jesus Over Baseball, a nonprofit that helps underprivileged kids by donating:
Gloves, bats, shoes and training gear
School supplies and coaching support
Offering free practice sessions to rural communities, immigrants and kids who don’t have access to a ballpark
“I was a kid standing outside the steel gridiron, looking at the field.”
Born in a small town in Oregon, Ryan Walker didn’t have $30 to buy a new glove.
He spent his childhood playing on dry dirt, throwing against concrete walls and sharing his luckier friends’ old gear.
“I used to stand outside the Little League fence, just hoping someone would lend me a bat.
I vowed that if I ever had the ability, I would go back and do it differently,” Walker shared in a tearful interview with NBC Sports.
The Story of the “Lunchbox” That Changed My Life
When he was 9 years old, Walker was given a lunchbox by a semi-pro player containing… a glove, an old ball, and a note that said “Never give up.”
“I kept it to this day. It’s the reason I started Jesus Over Baseball.”
A Summer Not Just for MLB, But for Small Dreams
Since the beginning of 2024, Walker’s organization has donated more than 4,000 kits, hosted 18 free training camps, and supported nearly 200 immigrant families in California.
The events are often closed to cameras and media. But for kids who thought baseball was a luxury, Ryan Walker was their heart’s All-Star.
“God first – then baseball”
The name Jesus Over Baseball is no coincidence. Walker shares that his religious faith helped him get through the days of injuries, being cut from the roster, living alone on a meager salary in the Minor League.
“I believe that greatness starts with being a good person. And I always want to remind kids of that.”
And at Oracle Park, every time Walker steps onto the mound…
Fans can see on his sleeve, embroidered with the words: “JOB – not just a game”.
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It’s not a brand.
It’s a reminder – that when the stadium lights go out, goodness is the only thing that remains.
Ryan Walker doesn’t just pitch for the Giants.
He throws for dreams that haven’t yet materialized, for kids who thought they weren’t good enough, and for “little Ryans” behind the net, just waiting for someone to believe in them.
“If you ask me what the most memorable throw of my career was? I don’t know. But I remember a little boy crying because he got his first pair of shoes.” — Ryan Walker.