BEST-SELLING AUTHOR

RANDY REID

THE CHANGEUP

A SPICY GAY BASEBALL ROMANCE

Evan Hayes is the Ninth Inning Man—a Portland Lumberjacks legend known for his ice-cold composure on the mound and his impenetrable privacy off it. His life is a carefully curated performance: the perfect pitches, the polished interviews, the empty glass house in the hills. He’s built a legacy on being untouchable, burying his truth so deep he’s almost convinced himself it doesn’t exist. His only goal is to pitch his team to a championship before his arm gives out or his contract expires, all while maintaining the facade that has become his prison.

Everything changes when Milo Cruz arrives. The rookie shortstop is a burst of unfiltered energy and talent, playing with a joyful authenticity that both captivates and terrifies Evan. Milo’s custom galaxy-patterned cleats and easy smile are a direct challenge to the unspoken rules Evan has lived by for a decade. Assigned as Milo’s mentor, Evan is forced into proximity with the one thing that could dismantle his carefully constructed world.

As the season grinds on, a tense mentorship evolves into a secret, volatile connection, forged in empty stadiums and hushed hotel rooms. But Milo refuses to live a lie, and when a media storm forces him to publicly come out, Evan is faced with an impossible choice: cling to the safety of his ghostly existence, or step into the blinding light with the man who has shown him what it means to be truly alive.

The ChangeUp is a gripping, heartfelt novel about the courage it takes to be your authentic self in a world that demands conformity. It’s a story of stolen moments and public reckonings, of a love fought for in the shadows and ultimately declared on the field under the brightest lights. This is more than a sports romance; it’s a powerful exploration of identity, legacy, and the transformative power of choosing love over fear, perfect for fans of Red, White & Royal Blue’s emotional depth and the electric atmosphere of The Art of Fielding.