The Hometown Nine is a fellowship designed to address barriers frequently encountered by student-athletes, including those most commonly experienced by young people from communities lacking access to advanced sports-based youth development programing, facilities and resources.

The Hometown Nine

Hometown Nine

The Hometown Nine prepares young people for athletic and academic success and a future as community leaders. It is part of the Mariners and Mariners Care's commitment to ensuring that all youth have access to the many benefits of organized sports.

By working to build a model for how youth sports can become more equitable and accessible, the Hometown Nine can share its learning with organizations across the country that are working to create change for future generations.

Goals

  • Increase inclusion, and a shared sense of belonging in youth baseball and softball by investing in the athletic, academic and social development of student-athletes, including young people from communities experiencing the greatest need.
  • Ensure 100% high school graduation rate for all Hometown Nine Fellows; provide guidance to help secure scholarships for 75% of participants who wish to play baseball or softball at the collegiate level.
  • Provide exposure to career pathways in the sports industry.

The Hometown Nine is part of the Mariners’ "On BASE" (Baseball and Softball Everywhere) initiative to provide programs that improve playing opportunities for young people of all identities, abilities, and socioeconomic circumstances.

How It Works

The Hometown Nine is a five-year commitment to nine incoming eighth-graders in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties. The program provides financial, academic, professional and social support to Hometown Nine Fellows to encourage success in their athletic careers and educational journeys. Mariners Care, the official nonprofit foundation of the Seattle Mariners, underwrites the playing fees for elite baseball and softball training, offering Hometown Nine Fellows equitable access to competitive play.

In conjunction with athletic support, each Fellow is paired with a Mariners Front Office staff who serve as mentors. They meet quarterly to provide academic and professional guidance. As the Hometown Nine Fellows near high school graduation, they will participate in events tailored to future academic pursuits, including college admissions prep, essay writing support, and more.

Candidates must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the program:

  • Be legally enrolled as a full-time incoming eighth-grade student in King, Pierce or Snohomish County in the state of Washington.

  • Be actively participating in a little league/club/select/travel youth baseball and/or softball team or seeking guidance from the Mariners to join a club/select/travel team with support from the Hometown Nine program, if selected.

  • Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher.

  • Demonstrate a commitment to academic achievement, leadership development and personal growth.

  • Be committed to advancing baseball or softball development through active participation and engagement.

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