Hillsboro, Ore. (August 18, 2026) – The Hillsboro Hops announced a new partnership with Oregon-based Rule42. Rule42 is a sports technology company dedicated to modernizing the discovery process for athletes, scouts and teams. Founded and led by Renée James, former president of Intel and founder and CEO of semiconductor pioneer Ampere (sold to Softbank in 2025), Rule42 has assembled an all-star team of technology and sports leaders to make the amateur sports journey more transparent and accessible.
“Rule42 was created from a desire to make athlete discovery more accessible to everyone and that starts with making sure every kid has an equal shot at being discovered,” said Renée James, founder and CEO of Rule42. “The Hops are a beloved part of the community we call home. Partnering with them is a wonderful opportunity to invest in the players and families right here in our own backyard.”
As Rule42 continues building the platform where the next generation of athletes—including future Hops stars—will be discovered, the company is ready to help shine a light on the talent and stories that make baseball special.
“We are excited to partner with Rule42 and help launch this new company,” said Hillsboro Hops President & GM K.L. Wombacher. “With their mission aligning with ours, they are a perfect fit as a founding partner of the Hops. Their focus on creating opportunities for youth athletes is something very important to us as well, and we look forward to accelerating their awareness and growth through this partnership.”
About Rule42:
Rule42 Sports Technology Group is a sports technology company dedicated to modernizing amateur athlete discovery. With an all-star team of sports and tech industry veterans led by Renée James, former president of Intel and founder and CEO of Ampere Computing, Rule42’s AI-powered platform gives every athlete an equal chance of being discovered, while helping scouts and teams objectively evaluate and build a broader, deeper talent pool. Initially focused on softball and baseball, the company plans to expand to additional sports in the future. For more information, visit www.rule42.com.
About the Hillsboro Hops:
The Hillsboro Hops are the High-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks and three-time Northwest League champions. The Hops began play in 2013 and opened the new Hops Ballpark in 2026. To date, 73 former Hops have gone on to play in Major League Baseball. Follow the Hops on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. Information on promotions and tickets can be found by visiting hillsborohops.com or calling the Front Office at 503-640-0887.