Travis Kelce is joining the Cleveland Guardians' ownership group as a minority investor, the Chiefs tight end told ESPN. The 36-year-old grew up in Cleveland Heights and spent his childhood attending Guardians games during the team's 1990s dynasty, when they won five consecutive American League Central titles. The Guardians are currently valued at approximately $1.7 billion, a significant jump from their $1 billion valuation in 2022.

Before focusing on football at the University of Cincinnati, Kelce was one of the top baseball players in the Cleveland area. He hit .588 with six home runs during his senior year in 2008 and played summer baseball as an outfielder with speed and power. Kelce admitted baseball initially seemed like his clearest path to professional sports, noting the unique thrill of hitting a home run compared to other athletic pursuits.

Kelce becomes the latest active athlete to invest in MLB ownership. LeBron James holds a stake in the Boston Red Sox, Giannis Antetokounmpo in the Milwaukee Brewers, and Patrick Mahomes invested in the Kansas City Royals in 2020. Kelce was brought into the Guardians group by David Blitzer, who holds ownership positions with the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils and has a potential path to majority ownership of the team after 2027.