How clubs are celebrating PLAY BALL Weekend

PLAY BALL Weekend, which begins Friday, will feature events on six continents as part of a worldwide effort to inspire participation in baseball and softball through over 200 activities hosted by MLB, MLB clubs, MiLB & Partner League Clubs, MLB’s international offices and youth league partners this weekend.

• Play Ball Weekend coming this weekend to 6 continents

Here's how teams are celebrating the weekend:

Angels

The Angels will host three free clinics to celebrate MLB’s Play Ball Weekend, to provide a fun, engaging and accessible experience for participants ages 6 to 12 with up to 250 youths at each location, totaling 750 kids. Taking place at Angel Stadium, and in Santa Ana and Redlands, participants will work with MLBPAA members, Angels Rally Camp coaches, and other community volunteers to learn the fundamentals of the game. Instruction will focus on key skills such as hitting, fielding, and base running, while also emphasizing teamwork, sportsmanship, and maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. Angels pitcher Reid Detmers and outfielder Wade Meckler will join campers at the Angel Stadium clinic.

Astros

On Friday from 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m., the Astros will host a PLAY BALL Clinic for 200 campers attending Astros Youth Academy Summer Camp at the South Post Oak Sportsplex in Fort Bend County. On Saturday all 350 Astros Youth Academy Nike RBI baseball and softball players will receive tickets to attend the Astros vs. A’s game that afternoon as a part of the PLAY BALL initiative. Wrapping up the weekend on Sunday, the Astros Youth Academy will host a special PLAY BALL Clinic at Daikin Park for 75 Special Olympics Texas athletes. All participants will also be given tickets to attend the Astros vs. A’s game later that afternoon.

Blue Jays

Blue Jays Baseball Academy will host three PLAY BALL Weekend events across Ontario. On Friday, the club will host a Pitch, Hit, & Run event in Toronto for players aged 7 to 14, as well as open a newly refurbished field at Christie Pits as part of Jays Care Foundation’s ‘Field of Dreams’, which provides funding to design, refurbish, and build local baseball and softball diamonds in communities across the country. On Saturday, the Academy will travel to Etobicoke, ON for a girls clinic and a second Pitch, Hit, & Run event. The weekend concludes on Sunday with a Challenger Baseball Skills Day for kids aged 8 to 12 with physical and cognitive disabilities, and a military clinic in Trenton, ON, for kids and families connected to active or retired military members. Through the MLB Together Military Grant Program, the Academy and Jays Care will present a $20,000 donation to Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services. At Rogers Centre, PLAY BALL Weekend will be celebrated on Saturday and Sunday with baseball-themed activities throughout the ballpark, including Jr. Jay Sunday and Jr. Jays Club first pitch, starting lineup, and 7th inning stretch.

Braves

Saturday begins with a can’t‑miss kids experience before gates open. Families are invited to the Braves Block Party in The Battery Atlanta, where young fans can take swings in our inflatable batting cage, test their speed in the baserunning challenge and see how they stack up against the pros, enjoy interactive games, activities, surprises, and more. Once gates open, kids of all ages are encouraged to visit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Park for an interactive wiffle ball experience. All kids playing at Hope and Will’s Sandlot in Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Park prior to first pitch will receive a free Franklin bat and ball set while supplies last.

Brewers

To celebrate PLAY BALL Weekend, the Milwaukee Brewers will host youth baseball and softball clinics on Saturday at 9 a.m. at Baran Park, featuring alumni Bill Castro, Jerry Augustine, Jim Gantner and Vinny Rottino and the Brewers mascots. Hundreds of young participants from across Wisconsin are expected to attend the morning of activities and will receive a free bat and ball set and lunch. The morning will begin with remarks from Alderman José G. Pérez, 15th District Supervisor Sky Capriolo, Brewers Community Foundation Executive Director Cecelia Gore and Journey House Athletics Director Martin Weddle.

Cardinals

The Cardinals will celebrate PLAY BALL Weekend with a series of youth-focused baseball and softball activities at Busch Stadium and throughout the community. Activations include Redbird Rookies PLAY BALL clinics and in-game experiences for youth participants, Kids Club Sunday festivities featuring interactive games and giveaways, and special pregame opportunities such as lineup card exchanges, PA for a Day, and Kids Ask the Player sessions. The club will also host the Cardinals Nike RBI PLAY BALL Invitational Tournament and a local Pitch, Hit & Run event as part of MLB’s initiative to encourage youth participation in baseball and softball.

Cubs

The Cubs will host a free “Youth Baseball and Softball Festival” at Gallagher Way Sunday from 10 a.m.-noon CT for roughly 300 young fans. The festival will bring the fun to the historic landmark with kid-friendly activities such as face painters, balloon artists, and caricaturists as well as baseball activities, sweet treats and more. The club’s mascot, Clark the Cub, will also make an appearance, surprising and delighting young fans in attendance.

Diamondbacks

The D-backs will host a Pitch, Hit & Run competition in partnership with MLB and RCX Sports for participants in the club’s 26th annual D-backs Inter-Tribal Youth Baseball & Softball Tournament presented by Talking Stick Resort. The tournament is the only Native American youth baseball and softball tournament hosted by a Major League Baseball club, bringing together nearly 1,500 athletes from more than 20 tribes and eight states. The Pitch, Hit & Run competition will serve as the official kickoff to the tournament, giving Native American youth ages 7-14 the opportunity to showcase their pitching, hitting and running abilities through MLB’s official youth skills competition at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on June 7.

Dodgers

The Dodgers will host a PLAY BALL clinic at Edison Language Academy in Santa Monica on Friday, bringing baseball and softball instruction directly to more than 400 local elementary school students. The clinic will introduce students to the fundamentals of the game through interactive skill-building stations, while emphasizing youth participation, health, and community engagement. Programming will be offered in both Spanish and English, reflecting the school’s 40-year dual-language model and ensuring accessibility for all participants.

Giants

The Giants Community Fund will host a series of free events across Northern California on Saturday. Designed for youth ages 5-13, the hour-long clinics introduce baseball fundamentals in a fun, welcoming and accessible environment ahead of the Junior Giants season. Participants will take part in interactive drills while learning the values of teamwork, leadership, confidence and integrity that are central to the Junior Giants program. Junior Giants, presented by Bank of America, is the flagship program of the Giants Community Fund and one of the largest MLB-affiliated youth development programs in the country. The free, noncompetitive program serves 28,000 youth annually across California, Nevada and Oregon by removing barriers to participation and creating opportunities for young people to grow both on and off the field.

Mariners

The Mariners will be activating PLAY BALL events across the Club's five state region and supporting PLAY BALL events through their affiliates with a goal of serving over 1,500 youth. The Club will host pop-up events with Minor League affiliates and independent league partners in Everett, Tacoma, Boise, Missoula, Little Rock and San Bernardino over PLAY BALL Weekend. The Mariners will continue PLAY BALL efforts during the summer with events in Anchorage (June 27), Fairbanks (July 3), Gresham (June 18), Seattle (Aug 22) and a special Play Softball Portland (June 19) event in partnership with the AUSL and Portland Cascade. Additionally, the annual PLAY BALL Challenger game will be hosted at T-Mobile Park on July 5 ahead of the Mariners game against the Blue Jays.

Marlins

On Saturday, the Miami Marlins and Miami Marlins Foundation are set to transform the Miami Marlins MLB Youth Academy into a dynamic hub of baseball and softball excitement. Kicking off the day, children ages 7–14 are invited to participate in a free Pitch, Hit & Run competition, providing young athletes the opportunity to showcase their skills through interactive drills and friendly competition. Following the event, a featured Marlins Nike RBI game will take center stage with “The Show” treatment, complete with a live DJ, bilingual public address announcer, in-game host, Billy the Marlin, and the Marlins Roosters, bringing the energy and excitement of a Major League gameday directly to the community.

Mets

On Saturday, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation will host the Junior Mets All-Girls Baseball Clinic at Citi Field, welcoming girls from Little Leagues and youth baseball and softball programs across the region for a morning of instruction, mentorship, and empowerment. Through this special event, players will develop their skills, build confidence, and continue chasing their dreams both on and off the field.

Nationals

The Nationals will host 500 youth and their families at their PLAY BALL Weekend event on Saturday at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The event includes a fun, fast-paced clinic for participants ages 5-14. All participants will receive a Nationals PLAY BALL T-shirt, a PLAY BALL bat and ball set and a healthy lunch provided by D.C. Central Kitchen. Special guests from the Washington Nationals will also make an appearance during the event.

Orioles

On Thursday, the club hosted the Baltimore High School Minority Coaches Alliance for a seven-inning All-Star game of senior baseball players. On Friday, the Orioles, along with Baltimore Child First Authority, Inc., will conduct a PLAY BALL Clinic at F.L. Templeton Prep Academy, consisting of drills to help students practice the sport of baseball and be active outside. All participants will receive a Wiffle ball and bat set from MLB. Volunteers from Orange and Black Gives Back, as well as Baltimore Child First Authority, will assist the students for the day. On Saturday, the Orioles will host the Nike RBI 15U and 18U Regional Teams for a game against the Williamsport 15U RBI Regional Team and the Philadelphia 18U RBI Regional Team for a showcase of the best talent in the area. To close out the weekend, in partnership with Baltimore County Recs and Parks, the Orioles will hold a Pitch, Hit, and Run event at Sollers Point Park for local area athletes including members of the RBI teams. For the first time, the event will also include a Pitch, Hit, and Run for children with developmental and/or physical challenges who are part of the Challenger League.

Padres

On Friday the Padres are hosting a Future Padres Little League team at Padres batting practice prior to the game, during which the little leaguers will receive brand-new custom City Connect batting gloves, courtesy of Franklin Sports and gifted by a Padres player. On Saturday, the club is hosting 100 children from its Padres Rookie League program for a clinic with the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS). Additionally on Saturday, for the first time in nearly 30 years, the Padres will have a presence in Hawaii when they host an inaugural youth baseball clinic for 100 children at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

Phillies

The celebration will begin Friday with a Pitch, Hit & Run contest with the Phillies Ballgirls at The Lighthouse field in North Philadelphia for both baseball and softball players, ages 7-14. On Saturday, the Phillies MLB Urban Youth Academy fields in FDR Park will have a fun-filled morning, with a youth baseball clinic at Dick Allen Field, and a youth softball clinic at the team’s softball fields. The baseball clinics will feature instruction from former players including 1993 National League champions Tommy Greene, Mickey Morandini and Milt Thompson, as well as 1980 World Series champion Dickie Noles and the Phillies Ballgirls. The jam-packed weekend will conclude with a Youth Softball Celebration at the Phillies UYA softball fields at FDR Park, with local teams participating in a five-station clinic.

Pirates

On Saturday, the Pirates will play host to the 2026 Play Ball Weekend Festivities at PNC Park. The Pirates will provide two free clinics for kids ages 5-14 on the same field where their favorite Pirates play. In addition, the Pirates will host a Play Ball Clinic with the US Conference of Mayors, inviting local Mayors and their constituents to the ballpark to hone their baseball skills and learn some new tips and tricks. These introductory clinics will allow athletes to participate in multiple stations including pitching, hitting, fielding, and baserunning.

Rangers

The Rangers will host a full slate of events for PLAY BALL weekend at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy, which provides free, year-round baseball and softball programming for athletes ages 7-18. On Friday, the Rangers will host summer training for 12U and 18U baseball and softball athletes featuring PLAY BALL shirt, bat and ball distributions. The Academy will host the PLAY BALL MLB Players Alumni Association Legends Clinic on Sunday, connecting former Major Leaguers with athletes ages 7-12 for skill development and Q&A sessions with legends of the game.

Reds

To celebrate PLAY BALL Weekend, the Cincinnati Reds and Reds Community Fund are hosting a Pitch Hit & Run competition on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy in Roselawn. Participants will be evaluated on their skills in pitching, hitting, and running, with their scores tallied for a chance to progress to the Regionals at Great American Ball Park. The highest achievers at GABP will then earn an all-expenses-paid trip for two to compete at the Finals, held during the 2026 World Series. All participants will receive a Franklin bat and ball set and Reds hat. Reds mascots will be in attendance along with a DJ, circus performers, face painters, LaRosa’s Pizza and a Kona Ice truck.

Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox and Red Sox Foundation will celebrate PLAY BALL through a series of youth-focused events designed to introduce and expand access to baseball and softball across Greater Boston. Activities begin with a PLAY BALL Recess at the Ohrenberger School in West Roxbury, engaging more than 450 students in skill-building baseball and softball stations, with appearances by Red Sox mascot Wally the Green Monster and interactive entertainment. The club and foundation will also participate in the Special Olympics Boston Public Schools Unified Game Day, providing adaptive baseball activities and equipment giveaways for participating students. The celebration concludes with the Red Sox Foundation’s annual Miracle League of Massachusetts takeover, featuring visits from Wally and Tessie, end-of-season festivities, and PLAY BALL equipment and T-shirt giveaways.

Rockies

In support of PLAY BALL Weekend, the Colorado Rockies are celebrating youth baseball and softball with a series of fun, community-focused activities. The Rockies will host a PLAY BALL Weekend clinic at the Boys & Girls Club Owens Branch with approximately 250 kids, while also welcoming young fans to Coors Field on June 6 and 7, where kids ages 5–12 can stop by a batting cage outside Gate A to take swings before the game. Each participant will receive a free bat and ball set courtesy of Major League Baseball. In addition, the Rockies will host more than 2,000 local youth baseball and softball players for special pregame parades around the warning track on both Saturday and Sunday.

Royals

The Royals will celebrate PLAY BALL Weekend beginning on Friday with the Royals x Chiefs Clinic at the Kansas City Royals Urban Youth Academy. That evening, the UYA will host an invite-only RBI Celebration Play Ball Clinic. This special event will celebrate the Royals RBI community with age-appropriate activities, including a T-ball clinic, a wiffle ball tournament, food and festivities, while also marking the conclusion of the Junior RBI season. On Saturday the Royals will host a free PLAY BALL Clinic at Kauffman Stadium, and the weekend concludes on Sunday with Pitch, Hit & Run at the UYA.

Tigers

The Tigers will host a youth baseball and softball clinic on Sunday to develop skills and grow the game throughout the Detroit community. The event is expected to host over 250 participants and will include several family entertainment elements including a live DJ, airbrush tattoo artists, inflatable activations and more. Following the clinic, registered families are invited to attend a special Kids Take the Field experience at Comerica Park, where they will be joined by an additional 250+ participants to enjoy a Tigers game and a post-game on-field experience, including the opportunity to run the bases.

Twins

On Friday, the Twins will support the Minnesota State High School League Softball Championships at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium (University of Minnesota). The club’s industry-leading inclusivity efforts will be on display the next two days as they partner with NubAbility to host free baseball and softball clinics for limb‑different athletes on Saturday and Sunday — with participants honored at Target Field during pregame festivities before the Twins’ home game on Friday vs. the Royals. Also on Saturday, the Twins will host free youth baseball and softball clinics for the Prairie Island Indian Community for kids ages 6–12.

White Sox

The White Sox will hold a free PLAY BALL Youth Clinic on Sunday at Nathan Hale Park (6258 W 62nd St) in Chicago. Open to boys and girls, ages 5–13, this high-energy clinic offers two sessions at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Led by professional coaches, participants will learn the fundamentals of hitting, throwing and fielding through engaging drills, followed by fun games to put their skills into action.