Ketchum company signs endorsement deal with Major League player

A Ketchum-based hunting apparel company is aiming to expand its brand awareness through a major endorsement deal with a Major League player.

First Lite, which sells outdoor gear from base and outer layers to headwear and gloves, inked a deal with Kyle Schwarber, a left fielder and designated hitter with the Philadelphia Phillies, to promote the brand.

Along with being a two-time MLB All-Star, a World Series Champion and a Home Run Derby MVP, Schwarber owns and manages family farmland in Ohio and is an avid outdoorsman and hunter. He also has a charitable foundation called Neighborhood Heroes.

First Lite stated that Schwarber was chosen not only because he is a longtime user of the brand’s products, but because his “authentic connection to hunting culture and relentless approach to preparation align well with First Lite’s ethos: Go farther. Stay longer.”

“Kyle represents the best of both worlds: A world-class athlete who is just as passionate about time in the woods as he is about time at the plate,” said Scott Trepanier, executive vice president of marketing at MeatEater Inc., the parent company of First Lite. “The fact that our relationship started with Kyle as a genuine customer speaks volumes. We are proud to welcome him as our first pro athlete ambassador, and to share a story that connects hunting culture with performance at the highest level.”

First Lite will feature Schwarber in many of its upcoming advertising campaigns. Schwarber will also collaborate with the company on various product assortments titled “Kyle’s Picks,” and appear on branded content.

“For me, the outdoors is a reset. Hunting’s about doing the work, putting in the hours, staying patient, and respecting the pursuit,” Schwarber said. “That’s why First Lite is a fit. Their gear performs in the moments that matter, and I’m excited to represent a brand that lives the same values I do.”