Travis Kelce’s $1.7 billion baseball venture hits major milestone just months after ownership move

Travis Kelce has another reason to celebrate away from the NFL field. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end is now part of the Cleveland Guardians’ ownership group, and his first season with the franchise has already brought a memorable moment. Cleveland clinched the American League Central title, securing another trip to October baseball. For Kelce, the achievement means more than a successful season. The Guardians represent his hometown, while baseball has been part of his life since childhood. His latest connection to the sport brings an old passion back into focus.Travis Kelce celebrates Cleveland Guardians’ division titleThe Cleveland Guardians punched their ticket to the MLB postseason on September 26 after beating the Kansas City Royals 11-5. The victory secured their third consecutive American League Central crown and marked another strong regular-season run under manager Stephen Vogt.Kelce did not wait long to celebrate. After the Guardians sealed the division, the NFL star took to Instagram Stories and shared a message with fans.“October baseball baby!! LFG Guards!!!” Kelce wrote on Instagram Stories.The Guardians also earned the American League’s No. 2 seed, which means they will receive a first-round bye. Cleveland is set to host Game 1 of the American League Division Series at Progressive Field on October 3 against the winner of the Astros and White Sox series.Kelce became a minority owner of the Guardians in May 2026. The investment added a new chapter to his connection with Cleveland, where he grew up before becoming one of the NFL’s biggest stars.Travis Kelce’s baseball connection goes back yearsLong before Kelce became a Super Bowl champion and NFL star, baseball was a serious part of his sporting life. His father, Ed Kelce, coached him from T-ball through youth baseball, and Kelce continued playing multiple sports at Cleveland Heights High School.His baseball ability was especially noticeable during his senior year in 2008. Kelce reportedly hit .588, prompting high school coach Michael Dillon to draw a bold comparison.“He would have been an Aaron Judge-type player,” Dillon said.Baseball also remained in Kelce’s thoughts during his college career. After a suspension kept him away from Cincinnati’s football team during the 2010 season, he played summer collegiate baseball and considered whether the sport could become another path.“I could track a baseball in the outfield,” Kelce said in 2024. “Like, I felt like I would always get a chance. So it was always in the back of my mind that I had that as a plan B, which is why I tried to, you know, play in 2010 when I got kicked out of school or when I got kicked off the team for a little bit. I was always just kinda keeping that alive in a sense.”Football ultimately became Kelce’s calling. Yet his investment in the Guardians shows that baseball never completely left his story. Now, his former “plan B” has become part of his life in a very different way.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.