This is all Alex, we're just here to help.”

MLB Player's Trust Program Coordinator Laney Ortiz

River Falls-native and current Washington Nationals center fielder Alex Call has always had a plan. If his plan takes an unexpected detour, he has a plan for that, too.
Call was in town this past weekend holding the Alex Call Homegrown Baseball Clinic on Friday morning at First National Bank of River Falls Field. It was a free clinic given by the Major League Baseball Player's Trust, the charitable arm for the MLB Player's Association.
"This is all Alex, we're just here to help," said MLB Player's Trust Program Coordinator Laney Ortiz.
Call is the player ambassador for the Nationals and he wanted a special day to give back to his community on this visit to play the Minnesota Twins.
"The ambassadors are our eyes and ears what the players want to focus on," Ortiz said, "and when Alex asked for help with his community, it's a no brainer. We're going to help."
The MLB Player's Trust did provide 100 free Nationals/Twins tickets to the campers and donated $5,000 to the Wildcat Dugout Club and $5,000 to the River Falls Baseball Council, but a priceless gift was given by Call to kids working on their swings in the batting cage at 9 a.m.
"I can't tell you how important it is not to complain and don't feel sorry for yourself," Call said to three 11-year-olds waiting for their time in the batting cage. "Always be prepared. When your number gets called, you be ready for that opportunity. I always tell my manager I'm the best two-strike hitter in baseball. I believe that."
It was priceless and prophetic.
With hundreds of River Falls' faithful watching in the Target Field seats Friday night, Call did not play in the game, a 1-0 Twins' win. He also didn't receive the starting nod in Saturday's game, but when the Nationals' starting center fielder Jacob Young was hit on the finger by a Joe Ryan pitch with two strikes, Call was sent in to pinch-hit in the third inning.
The best two-strike hitter in baseball crushed an RBI single to left scoring Drew Millas. Then, Call crushed a home run to the opposite field in the seventh and had an RBI in the eighth. On Sunday, Call went 2-for-4 and had another two RBI.
One 12-year-old camper waiting to swing asked Call if he'd ever hit off Twins' flame-throwing closer Jhoan Duran.
"I hit a sac fly off him in spring training one time," replied Call. "When that guy's on, he's tough, but he likes to throw low splitters and I like it low and take it right back up the middle."
As sure as the sun comes up over right field at First National Bank of River Falls Field, Call faced Duran in the top of the ninth inning Sunday. He did see a low split-fingered fastball and promptly smacked it right back up the middle into center field for a hit.
"There are so many people from River Falls that helped me get to where I am," Call said. "The community looked after me and I want to look after them."
Call was signing autographs after the clinic was finished until the last request was asked.
"My autograph is technically Mrs. Nelson's doing at Greenwood (Elementary)," Call said smiling. "She taught me how to write cursive."
"Sometimes, teachers make big impressions on you," said Katie Call, Alex's mom wearing his No. 17 jersey. “From a mom’s perspective, he’s a humble guy and we feel very blessed for him to be able to play in the MLB.”
River Falls-native J.P. Feyereisen won a World Series ring pitching for the Los Angeles Dodges in 2024. Feyereisen was limping around with a pulled calf muscle and coaching a team of campers in the third base dugout.
"What elementary school did you go to, J.P.?" asked a young camper.
"I went to Greenwood," Feyereisen said. "Actually, Alex and I rode the same bus to school."
"It's important to let these kids know this is where I'm from," Call said. "Those guys are riding the same bus I rode and sitting in the same chairs I sat in. I want them to know if I can do it, so can they. River Falls is such a special place and I'm proud to be from here."
Trey Larson, a former River Falls Wildcat player and current River Falls Fighting Fish shortstop, was helping coach a defensive drill where one partner tosses a ground ball on their knees and the other partner back hands it with their bare hand.
"Make a good toss," Larson told the kids. "You have to toss that thing with love. The better the toss, the better your teammate will be."
That unrehearsed organic comment from Larson, may be the single most important microcosm of River Falls baseball. It has been said by many, the true mark of a team is when no member of team cares who receives the credit. They only care about the team.
"Just sharing the field with all these guys, it's such a special morning," said 27-year River Falls High School Head Coach Ryan Bishop. "Today is not about developing skills. Today is about developing love for the game of baseball and for the opportunity to represent the "RF" with their brothers. That's where the 'hometown' comes from (in the clinic title). It's all River Falls coaches and River Falls players."
"It all starts with Ryan's [Bishop] culture and who he is as a person," Call said. "He's continued to invest his time and energy into kids and people and then they contribute and it's turned into a big cycle that everyone has pride in."
"This isn't any one person or small group of people responsible for a day like today," Bishop said. "It's just an incredible culmination of what has become River Falls baseball."
Ben Oian was named the "Most Outstanding Camper" award and received a batting practice invite at Target Field with Call.
"It was really fun," Oian said. "I definitely look up to Alex because he's from my hometown and he made the big leagues."
"It was so fun to be around the older guys and Alex was really encouraging," said camper Parker Kealy. "I was trying to hit a nuke and I did it."
Kealy did have the hardest hit ball during the scrimmage, a bullet to left center.
"When Alex was these kids' age and younger, he would stand by the fireplace and get his little Milwaukee Brewer bat," said Marv Call, Alex's dad, "and I'd crumple up an aluminum foil ball and pitch it as hard as I could."
Alex belted Marv's aluminum foil fastballs right into the chandelier.
The Call's weren't raising chandeliers, they were raising the best two-strike hitter in baseball.
"We're just pinching ourselves," Marv said. "This weekend was just one-in-a-million."