Stryker (NYSE:SYK) announced today that it is working with Minor League Baseball as the official joint replacement partner for the organization.
Kalamazoo, Mich.-based Stryker has been designated as “The Official SmartRobotics Joint Replacement Partner of Minor League Baseball (MiLB),” according to a news release. The company is also the presenting partner of “Own the Walk,” which it touts as the first-ever national platform to encourage fans of all ages to stay active through everyday activities like walking.
Under the first-of-its-kind, multiyear national partnership, Stryker and MiLB will host “Own the Walk” gameday events at MiLB stadiums across the U.S. while displaying the company’s Mako SmartRobotics joint replacement system for those on-hand.
Fans at each event will have the chance to participate in multiple in-stadium experiences and activities while learning about the Mako platform, which uses 3D, CT-based planning software for hip and knee replacement, enabling surgeons to create a 3D image of each patient’s unique anatomy.
Stryker’s commitment to “Own the Walk” includes a promise to donate $1 to K9s for Warriors, a provider of service dogs to American veterans living with military-related trauma, for every walk issued to a batter during the regular season.
“We are thrilled to work alongside Minor League Baseball to bring the ‘Own the Walk’ platform to fans and communities across the U.S. while also supporting our veterans,” Stryker joint replacement division president Don Payerle said in the release. “Minor League Baseball fans are not only passionate about the game, but they also care about spending active time together with loved ones, so what better way to get active than by spending a day with the family at the ballpark?
“Our country has endured a great deal over the past year, and we want to engage local communities with fun and healthy activities, including learning about the importance of joint health and innovative medical technologies like Mako SmartRobotics.”