Holy Toledo Sports Edition
Behind the scenes stories from the Toledo Mud Hens, Toledo Walleye, and Hensville that spotlight the people, partnerships, and impact shaping the Glass City.
Holy Toledo Sports Edition
#017 Jason Klatt - Toledo Mud Hens
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2025 Minor League Baseball International League Visiting Clubhouse Manager of the Year, Jason Klatt, sits down with Brad Rieger to talk about his day-to-day responsibilities and how he works to ensure a world class experience for visiting teams.
Hello, everyone. Welcome to Holy Toledo Sports Edition. And today's guest is Jason Klatt. And Jason is the visiting clubhouse manager. And um Jason Jason, along with his staff, their sole responsibility is to make sure that the visiting team feels welcome and all their needs are met. And what he shares during this conversation is really interesting and fascinating. I think you're going to really enjoy it.
JasonThanks for having me.
BradAnd you know, it strikes me that your whole role is about serving people. And where does have you always been interested in making people feel welcome and creating good experiences for them?
JasonUm yeah, kind of. I mean, I I think I first kind of got into this just because I loved baseball more so than anything, and then just kind of uh evolved to what we do down there now, trying to make all the players and coaches and the staff feel welcomed and uh get a let them know the city of Toledo a little bit better.
BradYeah, and so a part of you since you are the main point of contact or initial point of contact, and you have a lot of interactions with the visiting players and and coaches and support staff, it seems to me your role has there's a little bit of an ambassador role to it, meaning you represent the Mud Hens, but also you represent the city of Toledo. Do you feel that at all?
JasonUm, we're definitely kind of the front line between uh everyone coming into town and and trying to introduce them to what we have to offer here in the city. Um I mean, we're constantly getting asked for different restaurant recommendations, golf, uh, the zoo, imagination station. Um guys were going to hockey games when hockey was still going on. Um, so yeah, we try to take care of them. We try to get them out and uh see the town. I mean, me and my crew that work down there, we're all from Toledo. So we got a lot of you know pride for our community in the town we grew up in. So we kind of want to showcase that to the teams that come through here.
BradAnd you get players that ask you, coaches ask you, hey, what can we do when we're in town?
JasonAll the time, yeah. They'll even reach out before they come into town and we'll set up uh tea times for them or uh restaurant reservations, stuff like that. So yeah.
BradYou do a little concierge service, obviously. You set them up.
JasonWe do that stuff, yeah. We'll even uh drive them, pick them up, uh take their bags, do all that kind of stuff. So definitely try to provide first class service when it comes through.
BradAnd we're gonna get into more of that. It also struck I'm sticking with this hospitality theme, and because you were so attentive with that, and you've been in your role what 13, 14 years?
JasonUh I've been with the Tigers, I think this is my 13th year, but this is uh I started doing the clubhouse during the uh the COVID year, actually. 2020. All right. So there wasn't even a season. Um, so that's kind of how I got started in this role now.
BradSo the hospitality aspect, you're very attentive with that. I'm wondering when you're when you go somewhere, like if you go to a restaurant or a hotel or um another athletic venue, um uh uh even a store, do you quietly kind of assess the customer experience that you're that you're going through?
JasonUh I mean, kind of. I that's probably something I've always done. You kind of notice uh the frontline service you get anywhere you go, a restaurant or anything like that.
BradHas there ever been a place you've gone to go, wow, that's great. It's great service.
JasonUm, I mean, a lot of places we use here, some of the different restaurants, uh, catering companies, Tree City catering, uh, Beirut is great, original sub shop down here on Summit Street, um, Paul's Smoke and Grill, like all those places are just phenomenal to work with. Uh the owners are great, great customer service. Yeah. So, I mean, those are places we like to use here for the teams every every time teams come through.
BradSo, and Jason, you are um from the 419 here. You grew up in Oregon. Uh, you went to Clay High School and you played baseball and soccer. What what positions did you play in those sports and any noteworthy experiences kind of stay with you now?
JasonUh baseball, I was an outfielder. Um maybe maybe the most memorable was uh my senior year, we played at Ned Skeldon and won the, I think it was the regional or sectional, one of them, one of the championships. So we got to play on the field, won, celebrated, did the dog pile, did all that kind of stuff. So that's kind of one of the memories that sticks out. I played here, um, I think as a freshman down here at fifth third.
BradSo and Clay's always always known for their baseball program, right?
JasonYeah, yeah. We got a pretty we had a pretty good program out there when I was there, and they did really good again this year. I think they're a game or game or two away from the final four.
BradSo who are the players you uh looked up to as a as a kid baseball-wise?
JasonUh my favorite player that I always remembered watching was Bobby Higginson.
BradWow.
JasonWho played for the Mud Hens and obviously played for the Tigers for a while, but for some reason he was always my favorite player. Uh I always wore number four just because that's what that's the number he wore.
BradRight. So you must have come to a lot of Mud Hens games as a kid.
JasonYeah, we came to a lot of Mud Hens and Tigers games as a family.
BradOkay. What about soccer? What position did you play?
JasonUh defense mostly. I don't know what the technical position for that one was, but did you watch any of the World Cup? I did, yeah.
BradWho were you cheering for? Are you a Messi fan?
JasonI was actually rooting for Spain.
BradOkay.
JasonIt worked out because we had a little clubhouse uh pool going on down there, and we all drew names out of a hat, and one of the names I drew Spain.
BradSo all right, that worked out.
JasonYeah. So we got Clubhouse of the Year, and we got the the World Cup in the same same year. That was cool.
BradThat is cool. Uh you were at the University of Toledo studying at when you were at UT. What did you think your career path was going to be?
JasonHonestly, I always wanted to do something in baseball. Oh, okay. You knew early on. Yeah. Yeah, that was kind of something I looked to get into, even yeah, like back in high school and all that kind of stuff. So I knew I wasn't gonna be good enough to play, but I knew I loved the game, so I wanted to be around it.
BradAnd then how did your path get to the Tigers slash Mud Hens?
JasonActually, the first job I had in baseball was working for Craig Katz down in the souvenir shop uh right out of high school in my first couple years of college. And then to get getting to the Tigers, I knew um a family friend of a friend who knew Jim Schmakel, who was the longtime manager, manager for the Tigers. Uh he's also he's a Toledo guy as well. So I just called him up the one day out of the blue. Um, just kind of introduced myself, uh, said my story, what I was trying to do, and then he kind of hired me on the spot.
BradWhat did you tell him your story was when you said what do you wanted to do? What'd you tell him?
JasonI just said, Hey, I know so-and-so. I go, uh I've worked with the Mud Hens for the past couple years. I'm going to Toledo, um, looking to get into baseball, this and that. And they were just coming off of the World Series. I think it was 2012, 2011. And uh we just kind of chatted for a little bit, and he goes, Okay, I need interns in spring training, and uh it just kind of kind of evolved from there.
BradWhat did you learn um from Jim?
JasonI learned quite a bit. I learned quite a bit. He would kind of going back to the hospitality thing, the biggest thing I always learned from Jim was he never said no to a player. He was always there for the players and coaches, he would do whatever they asked. And some of it was outrageous, and maybe he couldn't couldn't do that, but he would find the next next best option. And uh that's something that I he retired actually last year. So we went up to his retirement ceremony and all that, and uh he kind of asked me the same question. I was like, I just remember you always you would do anything for these guys, anything. So that's kind of the same it's a great takeaway, same mindset I've always tried to take into this job, yeah.
BradSo let's get into the um inside the visitors' clubhouse here at Fifth Third Field. So um Jason, what type of experience do you want visiting players, coaches, managers, support staff to have when they are playing here at fifth third?
JasonUm I mean we want them to feel welcomed and kind of enjoy coming to our city. Um you know, a lot of these guys have never been here before. So it's cool to see hear the comments of hey, we never we didn't know anything about Toledo, we never even knew where it was, but you know, when they're leaving town on Sunday, the compliments and hey, this is a this is a cool town, we like it here.
BradSo then um take us through um, let's say it's a seven o'clock game, home game here at 5th third. Take us through what you and your team are doing um pre-game, in-game, and post-game.
JasonOur stuff kind of starts uh even before game day. Like the equipment truck will show up the day before. We'll unload that, all the equipment bags, bat bags, trainers' trunks, strength trunks. Um, I mean, there's a lot of stuff that comes with these teams on the road. So we'll do unload the truck, unpack the bags, make sure the lockers are all set up. Um game day, we're usually here 11, 12 o'clock. Um they're kind of long days, but uh we're just here for kind of anything they need. We'll set up, make sure the food is all set up for them.
BradUm what type of food? Is it different for every team?
JasonEvery team is different, yeah. So I'll kind of the dietitians or the for each individual organization will reach out like a week or so in advance or restaurant recommendations. Um, so I'll kind of work with them to set up set up the food.
BradIs there pregame food and their post-game food?
JasonUsually like a pregame food, post-game food. Sometimes there might be like a BP kind of food as well. So usually never go hungry down there.
BradAnd that falls to you to organize that.
JasonWe won't necessarily order it, but usually there's uh a dietitian or someone for each team that kind of actually does the ordering. Okay. But they'll reach out for different restaurants and places around town to use.
BradGot it. Um, and then uh during the game, well, give us an example, uh, Jason, of a level of detail that you and your team put into um that locker room to make it uh special and welcoming for those visitors, visiting teams.
JasonI mean, we try to have everything set up and ready to go when those guys walk in. Um like their lockers will hang everything up in their locker, we'll hang it up kind of in order so it's organized. Like they can, their jerseys, their pants, coats, hoodies, shorts, everything is kind of grouped together. Um, their shoes are all clean, um bags are unpacked, bat bags, all that kind of stuff.
BradUh during the game, where do you where are you watching the game from?
JasonUsually during the game, we'll just kind of chill down in the clubhouse. That's kind of our downtime. So once the game starts and everyone's out on the field, uh we do like our initial cleanup, get the clubhouse back in the the order we had it, you know, when they walked in that day. Right. And then we can just kind of hang out, enjoy the game for a few hours, and then wait for our post-game stuff.
BradAnd you do every now and then you um do some transporting of players when it when if they're a big name. How does that usually evolve? Like someone, someone from the like the their staff says, hey, this person needs a little bit extra to get to the locker because there might be autographers out there.
JasonYeah, usually their staff or the player themselves will reach out to me. Um, so we'll drive them to and from the stadium if they need. Um, we've done airport runs, like we've taken them to and from the airport. We've taken them to and from fifth, third field here to progressive field in Cleveland or Comerica. Um, so yeah, that's just kind of another level of service we provide. Ubering services, I guess.
BradYou're full service, right? Never say no, Jim Schmakel, right? We do it all, yeah. Do it all. Uh, what has the International League has gone to this um kind of a six-game scheduling homestands? How has that changed um the level of service or even the type of interactions that you have or relationships you develop with the opposing teams?
JasonYeah, definitely. It definitely has. I mean, guys being here for a full week, you kind of get to know them a little better. Um they'll come in, hang out in your office. Uh they want to do more things kind of off the field, just because a lot of them will travel with families as well. Um, so that's where stuff like setting them up with golf or uh they want to take the family to the zoo or imagination station. Yeah, it's different than the three-game series where they used to come in late at night, play a game the next day, play a day game the day after, and then leave town. Very rushed. Guys are here for a full week, so there's a lot more time to get to know get to know guys. Yeah. It's definitely changed it.
BradWell, this is definitely uh a people profession. Uh, you're in a service uh aspect. What have you learned in this role about people and how to work with them or how to connect with them?
JasonUh I think the biggest thing is we might have 45-50 guys down there on a visiting team with staff and players, and there are 50 different personalities. I mean, everyone is different. Sure. Um different countries, different levels of you might have a guy who makes $30 million a year playing baseball, or you might have a guy who's making far less. So there's a wide just the personalities in the people you meet, there's a wide range that we have.
BradAnd you enjoy that aspect.
JasonIt is cool, it keeps you on your toes. But uh, I mean, there's there's some guys that more serious, uh you know, they they don't want to talk to you on game day, they want to just go about their business. Other guys want to have fun, hang out, hang out after the game. Uh, so you just gotta you definitely gotta be adaptable and kind of recognize the situation.
BradAmong all those uh exchanges and experiences with other uh teams or players and coaches, is there an exchange that you had or maybe a compliment that you've received that really uh resonated with you?
JasonUm I mean we get so all the teams that come through are able to fill out surveys on the clubhouse, on the staff, uh and they can do like the the ground crew staff, the hotel, all that stuff as well. So we see the comments uh that we get from these teams, and uh we love getting the favorable ones, yeah, for sure. Right, yeah. There's a lot of good ones.
BradThat's great. And um do you have much interaction with the Mud Hens uh clubhouse manager or Mudhouse Mud Hen players? Do you interact with them on a regular basis?
JasonYeah, I mean our staff, we kind of kind of do stuff with with both teams. Okay. Uh we kind of intermix every now and then. Um, but I go down to spring training every year, so I get to know these guys from down there. Um see them as they've come up through the minor leagues. I'll go up like when the Tigers or when the Mud Hens are on the road, I'll go up and work some days up in Detroit. So you kind of get to see guys as they go up and down. And then guys as they maybe they have played with us in years past, they come through on the visiting side. Uh, we had Ryan Kreidler, Beau Burrows, guys like that, Bligh Madris, guys have been with us in the past that you get to know that have circled back through. So that's cool seeing those guys.
BradWhat type of duties do you do up at Comerica for the Tigers when you go up there?
JasonUh just kind of the same aspect, just work in the clubhouse. Um it's it's basic it's the same stuff, it's just a different venue, essentially. Like if you were to go to any clubhouse, I think around the country, the same five, six basic jobs are all the same. It's just a different venue you're doing it in.
BradSo back to the uh the visiting clubhouse here. What type of uh amenities are available for the opposing team?
JasonSo we kind of we got a few more than other cities, that's for sure. Just from some of the comments that we've heard from players. I mean, we got we have your basic stuff, but then we got other things that kind of set us apart. We got a hot dog cooker down there, we got a pizza oven, uh, we got a putting green, we got an arcade machine, it's got like 10,000 games on it, mini basketball hoop.
BradSo it's like a Dave and Busters.
JasonIt's a lot of fun, it can get it can get fun down there some days. Yeah.
BradYeah. Okay. I can see why people like to hang out. Yeah. Plus the personal touch that you and your staff give. How many people are on your staff that kind of support you and in this endeavor?
JasonUsually on the VIS side it'd be me, and then there's three to four of us that are pretty much there every game.
BradSo and you delegate things as needed, right?
JasonUm, it really don't need to delegate. Everyone kind of knows what needs to be done, and they just kind of we kind of have our system in place now. We know, like, hey, when the game starts, uh, someone's gonna take out the garbage, someone's gonna do the laundry, someone's gonna clean the counters, like we tear down the food. Uh, we all kind of know our roles and we just kind of go about it. Yeah.
BradAnd then in 2025, obviously, um, a really nice honor. Um, you were selected um the visiting clubhouse manager of the year. And that, as you said, that was really derived from all those surveys. So it's coming from the players and the coaches and support staff. And obviously, internationally looks at all that, and you came came forward as a winner of that. That had to mean something a lot to you and to your staff.
JasonYeah, that did mean a lot to us. Um, I mean, we knew that we did a great job down there. We've seen the surveys, we've heard the comments, uh, but to get recognized like that, it was it was really cool for us.
BradYeah. All right, two two final ones, uh, Jason. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
JasonUm, I mean, it'd be hard to say it wasn't winning that award and seeing seeing the comments and stuff from the other teams. Um, but it is cool just hearing how much guys loving love coming to town, love coming to Toledo, um, the job we do in the clubhouse, like they enjoy the clubhouse, how great the stadium is, how great Kyle and his staff is out there getting the field ready. Um that's kind of the part that we like.
BradYeah. And last one, similarly, uh, what are you most proud of? If you look back all over throughout your whole career in this professional baseball um support role, behind the scenes role, what are you most proud of? You personally?
JasonUm, I mean, I I think I'm most proud of just being able to work in baseball, be a part of the Mud Hens, of the Tigers. Um it's kind of something that I've always wanted to do. So being able to work for the hometown team, the Tigers, the team I've followed growing up. Um, it is pretty it's pretty cool. Uh I mean, I take a lot of pride in that. And I think overall, I think that would be something that I would be most proud of.
BradYeah. Well, Jason, it's real obvious that you uh care deeply about your job and you're very good at it. And um thanks for being such a great ambassador for the Mud Hens and our city and taking time today. There's a home home game tonight, and I know you're gonna go take care of the Louisville bats and make them feel real welcome. So continue to do the good work that you do.
JasonThank you. Thanks for having me.