The Longfield Center and the Hanford Parks and Recreation Department presented the 15th Annual Hall of fame program on Saturday morning.
The awards, meant to be an inspiration to Hanford’s youth, are given out every year to individuals in the professional or athletic fields that have made significant contributions to the City of Hanford and its youth.
This year's single recipient of the induction award is Jeremy Freitas, a 1993 graduate of Hanford High School, later a member of the Fresno State 1995 WAC Championship baseball team, and a member of the 1998 University of Southern California National Championship baseball team.
He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 1998, and played minor league baseball for three years before retiring in 2001.
Freitas started going to the Longfield Center when he was 11 years old and met his mentor and best friend Donald Taylor, who taught him to never give up.
He continues to mentor young players for Hanford youth baseball and while coaching at Sierra Pacific High School.
Friends and relatives welcomed him into the hall with speeches and a lunch afterwards.