Steven Wright has spent his offseason giving back.
The Boston Red Sox knuckleballer participated in a USO tour of five military bases in early December, and it was an eye-opening experience for Wright. In fact, it meant a lot to him to be invited in the first place.
“I’m no Dustin Pedroia or David Ortiz,” Wright told The Boston Globe’s Pete Abraham. “But when they asked me to go, I was honored to have the opportunity. I’ve always had an appreciation for the military and was happy to do it.”
Fellow Red Sox pitcher Heath Hembree joined Wright, along with a rather mixed group consisting of singer Chris Daughtry, actress Elizabeth Banks and comedians Sydney Castillo and David Wain. They went to Italy, Djibouti, Afghanistan, Bahrain, and Germany over seven days starting Dec. 4, and it was a memorable experience.
“Sometimes we just kind of hung out with people and saw what they did or talked about their families,” Wright told Abraham. “Really, what we did was bring a little bit of America to where they were.
“It really leaves you with such an impression. If I have a bad day, I might lose a game and people will criticize me. If those people have a bad day, somebody goes home in a body bag. Their lives are on the line.”
Wright also went to Kenya with former teammate Justin Masterson in November, per Abraham, and worked with a group that helps fight poverty. Wright and his wife welcomed their second child in September, too, so it’s safe to say he’s had a busy offseason.
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
