Behind the Scenes at Haute Living’s Spring Training Kickoff With MLB Icons

Photo Credit: Jake Maciosek

Haute Living marked the beginning of Spring Training with an intimate private dinner hosted alongside Rockefeller Global Family Office and DBT Wealth Partners, with Ferrari of Tampa Bay joining as a featured partner. The dinner took place at the home of Toronto Blue Jays pitcher José Berríos, bringing together MLB greats and rising standouts.

Among the guests were George Springer, Clarke Schmidt, Javier Báez, Alejandro Kirk, Fernando Cruz, and Scott Effross, adding to a memorable evening at Berríos’s home. Lt. Governor Jay Collins landed from Jacksonville to join the evening, helping officially usher in Spring Training in Tampa alongside the assembled greats and reinforcing the significance of the gathering beyond the field.

Photo Credit: Jake Maciosek

In addition to opening his home for the evening, Berríos continues to invest deeply in impact beyond the field through La Makina Foundation, his philanthropic initiative dedicated to empowering and transforming lives and communities through sports, education, and inspiration while nurturing a brighter future for the next generation. The foundation reflects his commitment to expanding opportunity in underserved communities, particularly in Puerto Rico, where he hosts his annual foundation event each December, bringing together supporters, and community leaders in a celebration of purpose driven leadership and long term change.

Photo Credit: Jake Maciosek

Rather than a traditional social affair, the evening reflected a growing shift in how leaders across sports, finance, and luxury engage with one another. Conversations moved beyond performance on the field and into long term vision, legacy planning, and the evolving role athletes now hold as entrepreneurs, investors, and cultural decision makers.

Photo Credit: Jake Maciosek

Within the relaxed atmosphere of Berríos’ home, guests shared perspectives on navigating high performance environments, managing generational wealth, and building meaningful partnerships that extend beyond contracts or seasons. The presence of Rockefeller Global Family Office and DBT Wealth Partners underscored the importance of strategic guidance in an era where elite athletes increasingly operate as business leaders.

Photo Credit: Jake Maciosek

Ferrari of Tampa Bay brought an added layer of lifestyle alignment to the gathering, reinforcing the natural synergy between precision, discipline, and excellence across industries. As the evening unfolded, guests raised a rare Louis XIII toast while enjoying wines by Silver Oak, marking the official start of Spring Training in Tampa with understated elegance and refinement.

Photo Credit: Jake Maciosek

Photo Credit: Jake Maciosek

The gathering offered a rare moment of pause before the demands of the season begin. Surrounded by peers who understand the pressures of public success and private responsibility, attendees were able to exchange ideas in a space built on trust.

Photo Credit: Jake Maciosek

This quiet start to Spring Training highlighted a deeper evolution taking place within the professional sports landscape. Today’s elite athletes are no longer defined solely by their achievements in competition. They are shaping what comes next, building influence with intention, and helping define the ecosystem where performance meets wealth and lifestyle.

Photo Credit: Jake Maciosek

By bringing these worlds together in a personal setting, Haute Living created more than an event. It created a moment of alignment that set the tone for the season ahead.