Bloomsburg to the Big Leagues: student featured in World Series commercial

Nearly 34 million people watched the World Series this fall across the United States, Canada, and Japan — capturing the largest audience for the series in more than 30 years.

Star players Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., and Shohei Ohtani were among the prominent faces featured who helped attract the record audience. Another face making a regular appearance during the seven-game series — Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg’s own, Kairo Howell-Nelson.

The sophomore digital forensics major and black studies minor, who’s also heavily involved in multimedia entertainment, was among the small cast featured in the 30-second Major League Baseball apparel commercial that ran throughout the postseason, peaking during the record-setting final game of the World Series that drew a reported 51 million viewers.

“I’ve only seen the commercial (on TV) once,” said Howell-Nelson, adding he has the video uploaded on his Instagram profile so he can watch it any time. “I was hyped for a couple of minutes, but I realized that doing it is better than seeing it.”

Many others were just as hyped to have seen the spot more than once.

“I’ve had people message me that haven't talked to me in years to congratulate me,” Howell-Nelson said. “It's greatly appreciated, but I know this isn't the end goal. It's just a steppingstone. In my mind, it's just the beginning. I'm seeing greater engagement on my (Instagram) profile, and I know that can mean good things.”

An unexpected late-night summer email

“It was around 9 p.m. when I got the message from my manager at Aqua Model Management,” Howell-Nelson recalled. “Someone had dropped out of the shoot, and they wanted to know if I could make it there (Secaucus, N.J.) by 9 a.m. I live about three hours away … so, yeah, I was panicking a little.”

The message capped off what had already been a whirlwind summer.

Howell-Nelson, a native of Mount Pocono, has been building a name for himself as a performer, model, and musician across New York and New Jersey. An actor who attended one of his live performances introduced him to Aqua Model Management, which set the stage for more creative opportunities.

“I was doing a lot of different performances, modeling gigs, just putting myself out there,” Howell-Nelson said. “That’s how I got noticed. When my manager invited me to do the MLB spot, I didn’t hesitate.”

Even if that meant calling a friend for an “emergency haircut” that didn’t finish until midnight and hitting the road by 5 a.m. When Howell-Nelson arrived on set, he stepped into a buzzing production room filled with stylists, crew members, and other talent.

“Someone is always steaming clothes at these events,” he noted.

After checking in and grabbing a quick coffee, Howell-Nelson joined dozens of performers getting fitted in team jerseys. His first assignment: represent the Cincinnati Reds.

Between scene setups and camera takes, Howell-Nelson shared stories about his Bloomsburg experience and faith. His openness and professionalism quickly made an impression.

“I felt like people weren’t just paying attention to my look but also my character,” Howell-Nelson said. “That meant a lot. It all felt very natural … like I was supposed to be there.”

A week later, he was called back for another shoot — this time donning jerseys for multiple teams and feeling more at home in the high-energy environment. Howell-Nelson ends up representing the Los Angeles Dodgers, the eventual champion, in the finished commercial.

“I felt like Kobe (Bryant),” Howell-Nelson said. “I was one of the first to arrive and the last to leave. I knew I had to make the most of it.”

Since the World Series, he has auditioned for a Keurig commercial and even a film role requiring a British accent. Each new opportunity has encouraged him to keep pushing forward.

“I used to think getting something like this was magic,” Howell-Nelson said. “But going through it, you realize it’s about patience, good character, and understanding the process. Sixteen-year-old me would’ve been satisfied, but 26-year-old me knows this is just the beginning.”