Major League Baseball players Ryan O’Hearn and Ryan Vilade have been named as winners of the 2025 Keeper of The Game Award, the foundation announced Jun. 26.
O’Hearn, who is in his third season with the Baltimore Orioles and Vilade, who is in his first season with the Cincinnati Reds, have been supporters of Keeper of The Game since the foundation’s inception.
The Keeper of The Game Award, which was established in 2012, recognizes individuals or families in and around baseball who do exceptional work serving the special needs community and embody the spirit of servant leadership.
“I am so pleased with the two honorees we have chosen for the 2025 Keeper of The Game Award,” Keeper of The Game Executive Director Bryan Hoctor said. “Ryan O’Hearn and Ryan Vilade are our guys. They have so valuable to the Keeper community from the start. They have been outstanding ambassadors and special guests at so many of our events throughout their baseball careers. We couldn’t honor one Ryan without the other.”
Added Keeper of The Game Vice President Greg Weghorst: “Our foundation would not be where it is today without the impactful contributions of Ryan O’Hearn and Ryan Vilade. If you attend a Keeper of The Game event, there is a great chance you will see at least one of them there. They are both Keepers and deserving of this award.”
O’Hearn and Vilade follow Elvis Andrus, Kyle Wilson, the Ramirez Family (Carlos, Toni, Anthony and Jean), Jason Jennings, Ray Birmingham, Billy Viars, Jose Trevino, Scott Coolbaugh, Sharon Hill Pyburn, Tony Fernandez, Tracy Metten, Jamey Newberg and Chris and Jill Davis as winners of the prestigious award.
O’Hearn, a native of Frisco, Texas, has been a staple at Keeper of The Game movie nights and bowling events. At those events, he is always willing to visit with, sign autographs for and take photos with Keeper athletes and their families. He has volunteered at several Keeper of the Game Buddy Nights at DreamCatcher Park in Surprise, Ariz. O’Hearn has also donated New Balance clothing and gear for giveaways at Keeper events.
O’Hearn, who also played for the Kansas City Royals for five seasons, has been an active volunteer in both MLB communities he has played in. The Baltimore Orioles Charitable Foundation, Birdland Community Heroes and Royals Charities are on the list.
Vilade, who also grew up in Frisco, Texas, has been involved with Keeper of The Game since his youth days. When he was drafted out of high school by the Colorado Rockies in 2017, he began signing baseball cards through the mail and would return them with a request to make a donation to Keeper of The Game. He still does this today. Vilade has attended Keeper of The Game movie nights, bowling events, RP11 skills clinics and fundraiser brunches. He has gifted several pairs of New Balance shoes to Keeper athletes.
Vilade, who has also played for the Rockies, Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals, has been heavily involved in the local community of all his professional baseball stops. He regularly purchases gear from the team store for special needs fans.
O’Hearn and Vilade were both instrumental in the success of the #10DaysForTanyon campaign that helped raise funds for a Keeper athlete in need. They did video shout outs to Tanyon from MLB stadiums. O’Hearn and Vilade can be spotted wearing Keeper gear and are always quick to spread the word about the foundation inside their clubhouse and at baseball fields across the country.
O’Hearn and Vilade will be presented their awards by Andrus at the annual RP11 Strikes and Scholarships bowling event, which will be held in early January in Frisco, Texas.
UPDATE (1/6/26): After finishing the 2025 season with the San Diego Padres, O’Hearn signed a new deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Vilade was traded in the offseason to Tampa Bay Rays.
Keeper of The Game Award All-Time Winners
2025 Ryan O’Hearn
Ryan Vilade
2024 Elvis Andrus
2023 Kyle Wilson
2022 Carlos, Toni, Anthony and Jean Ramirez
2021 Jason Jennings
2020 Ray Birmingham
2019 Billy Viars
2018 Jose Trevino
2017 Scott Coolbaugh
2016 Sharon Hill Pyburn
2015 Tony Fernandez
2014 Tracy Metten
2013 Jamey Newberg
2012 Chris and Jill Davis
The Banisters are Keepers!