Details

The Hometown Nine program is a five-year commitment to nine incoming eighth-graders in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties. The program provides them with financial, academic, professional, and social support to ensure 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, the Mariners will pair each Fellow with a Mariners Front Office staff who will 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.

Required Events and Actions: Estimated 4-8 hours per month

  • One (1) initial introductory session with the Mariners.
  • One (1) initial meeting with assigned pod of Fellows and Mentors.
  • Attendance at 2-3 Hometown Nine events at the ballpark.
  • Participate in quarterly pod mental skills curriculum and complete reflections with mentors.

Optional Events and Actions:

  • Attendance at Mariners batting practice pre-game with mentors.
  • Attendance at Seattle Mariners games during the course of the season.
  • Participation in Mariners pre-game activities, in-game promotions, and more.
  • Video interviews and photo shoots with the Seattle Mariners.

The Mariners, through Hometown Nine, are committed to changing the culture of competitive baseball and softball by removing barriers and creating a culture of inclusion. The Mariners will ask the baseball and softball organizations where Hometown Nine Fellows play to partner with us to uphold and advance these principles.

Eligibility

Applications Details

The Hometown Nine Fellows application period is now closed.

  • Finalists will be selected and notified in August*.
  • If you have any questions on the application process, please reach out to HometownNine@mariners.com

*Dates subject to change in the sole discretion of the Mariners

Terms of Award

All decisions made by the Selection Committee are final. Hometown Nine Fellows and their parent/guardian will be required to enter into an agreement with the Mariners upon acceptance to the program (the “Agreement”). The Agreement will detail the annual requirements for participation in the Hometown Nine Fellowship and provide additional governing terms. The Mariners will have no obligation to any candidate selected to participate in the program until the Agreement is signed. Eligibility to continue in the program is contingent upon the Fellow's enrollment in school. Should the Fellow become injured or elect to stop playing baseball or softball for any reason, they will continue to have access to full mentorship support and events.

To remain in the program, Hometown Nine Fellows must be in good academic standing with a GPA of 2.0 or higher (or equivalent), display good citizenship, and adhere to the requirements set forth in Agreement.

All program details shall be determined in the sole and absolute discretion of the Mariners. Failure to comply with the Agreement may result in full loss of program eligibility and dismissal from the program. Payments for playing fees and associated costs will be paid by Mariners Care directly to each Fellow's travel/select program, never directly to the individual.

Disclosure of the requested information in connection with this application is voluntary, but the information is required for your child or ward to be eligible to participate in the Hometown Nine Program. The purpose of this information collection is to determine the candidate’s eligibility for participation in the Hometown Nine Program. In addition, by applying for the Hometown Nine Fellowship, you hereby grant permission to the candidate’s coaches to share attendance and performance information with the Selection Committee.

By applying for the Hometown Nine Fellowship, you grant consent for the Mariners to collect personal information about your child/ward as described in the Application. All personal information included in this application, including third party personal information/email addresses provided, will be collected, stored and used only for purposes of evaluating the application, checking the candidate’s references, and administering the program, and not stored or used for any other purpose. By submitting an application, you represent and warrant that you have permission from each such third party to provide their personal information for this purpose.

If your child is under 13, we must obtain additional consent to process the application. Please check your inbox for an e-mail from a member of the Hometown Nine selection committee and promptly follow the directions in the e-mail so that we can process the application. If you don’t receive an e-mail, please first check your spam folder and then let us know and we will resend the request.

The Mariners, through the Hometown Nine program, are committed to changing the culture of competitive baseball and softball by removing barriers and creating a culture of inclusion. The Mariners are committed to working with organizations and teams with Hometown Nine Fellows to learn about and adopt inclusionary practices and attend trainings as provided. More information to be provided as Fellows are selected for the Hometown Nine program.

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