AbbVie is looking to strike out inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with the help of Dexter Fowler, a former MLB All Star who won the 2016 World Series with the Chicago Cubs.

Fowler, who was diagnosed with IBD during his rookie season, said that shortly after he went public with his patient story, he was approached by AbbVie about a partnership.

Now, Fowler is helping to promote CrohnsandColitis.com, AbbVie’s online resource and education center for people living with IBD and other gastrointestinal issues. 

While professional athletes may seem like superheroes impervious to medical maladies beyond an injury on the field, Fowler said he wants to remind people that the pros are just like anyone else.

“I remember being younger and thinking professional athletes were robots; there’s nothing wrong with them and they’re at the top of their game,” he said. “But now it’s important to know that we are humans and we go through the same stuff that everyone else goes through. Our jobs are just different.”

The numbers back up that sentiment as well. 

Around 1.6 million Americans have IBD and there are approximately 70,000 new cases each year, according to UCLA Health. Meanwhile, more than half a million Americans have Crohn’s disease and it’s estimated that between 600,000 to 900,000 people have ulcerative colitis, according to data from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Fowler, who retired at the start of the year, is aiming to raise awareness about IBD and empower patients to be proactive in treating chronic GI problems. 

In a media availability Wednesday, Fowler said that the most overwhelming part of his diagnosis story was the unknown about what it would mean for his health. By being a vocal member of the IBD community, he is seeking to empower other patients to be vulnerable and get the care solutions they need.

“I’m happy I can help in any way and be there for other people to step up and speak about it because that’s going to help the community,” he said. 

The intersection between baseball and healthcare has been active over the course of the last year, with patients, marketers and brands making headlines for several initiatives.

In October, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) partnered with Major League Baseball for a COVID-19 PSA campaign. This was the second time HHS used the Fall Classic to promote COVID-19 booster shots.

Ahead of their home opener in April, the New York Mets announced a multiyear partnership with NewYork-Presbyterian in which the team will wear an NYP patch on their uniforms throughout the season, marking the first sponsored jersey patch in team history. 

Just this spring, MLB Network reporter Sarah Langs launched a fundraising campaign for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, hoping to spur another social media trend of fist-bumping instead of ice bucket-dumping.