Compton Youth Academy

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Shock ran through Grace Shary’s body as she realized what she had accomplished. Shary was the first recipient of this season’s Jennie Finch Empowerment Award series, presented by ARM & HAMMER. The award was presented to Shary at the Softball Elite Development Invitational at the Jackie...

There was a lot to celebrate for young baseball and softball players in Compton, Calif., and New Orleans on Saturday as Major League Baseball’s Youth Academies in those areas hosted ceremonial collegiate commitment letter signings at their facilities. A group of academy members participated in the ceremony, while others had...

Torii Hunter and Gary Matthews Jr. co-host the annual Celebrity Golf Invitational benefitting MLB Youth Academies in Compton and New Orleans

Mike Scioscia looks back at his run with Team USA in the Olympics as well as the Braves' World Series victory over the Astros

James Loney joins Hot Stove to discuss the Celebrity Golf Invitational to benefit the MLB Youth Foundation and his thoughts on Shohei Ohtani

MLB Opening Day presented by Chevrolet

Though fans are not in the stands for the start of the historic 2020 postseason, MLB has managed to cut out space to honor some of its most special supporters. At the four ballparks hosting Division Series games -- Globe Life Field, Minute Maid Park, Petco Park and Dodger Stadium...

Jonathan Mayo is joined by Chip Lawrence, Steve Williams, Jaron Madison, Deron Johnson and James Merriweather to discuss race in baseball

The United States continues to grapple with the systemic racism that has come more to the fore after the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by police, and, more recently, the shooting of Jacob Blake. As the country tries to find ways to address these injustices, one of its...

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum houses many vital elements of baseball’s past. But just a few steps from the museum is a place that features baseball’s present and future. The Kansas City Urban Youth Academy (UYA) opened in 2018 in the historic 18th and Vine District, just outside the museum...

Play Ball hosts their second GRIT event for U18 girls looking to advance their baseball careers

COMPTON, Calif. -- Alyssa Lee may be a 16-year old, but when she explains why she was out on a cool morning showing off her baseball skills, it’s the same answer you’ll get from anyone who plays the game, male or female. "This is what I love to do,” Lee...

COMPTON, Calif. -- Chris Archer may have been far from home, but that didn’t stop him from looking for ways to make a difference. The Pirates right-hander, who lives in North Carolina but is spending his offseason training in California, reached out to Major League Baseball seeking local youth-oriented events...

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- The annual Celebrity Golf Invitational at The Resort at Pelican Hill is a fundraiser for the MLB Youth Academy in Compton, Calif. For the Matthews -- event host Gary Jr.; his brother, Del; and their father, Gary Sr., or “Sarge” -- it’s also a family affair....

COMPTON, Calif. -- For a select group, Saturday at three of MLB’s Youth Academies was about celebrating promising futures while acknowledging the hard work -- and the support system -- it took to get to that point. In Compton, New Orleans and Dallas, college signing day is an occasion to...

The Compton Youth Academy celebrates three student athletes who are penning their national letters of intent

Before the season began, Major League Baseball released the 2019 slogan to its worldwide fan base: "Let the Kids Play." But that rally cry wasn't targeting only the players wearing Major League uniforms -- it was meant to be inclusive to everyone, including young people from all over who enjoy...

It's not long after dawn on Monday, April 29, when the 13-U and 12-U travel teams from the Major League Baseball Youth Academy in New Orleans return home, fresh off a National Youth Baseball Championships qualifier tournament in Grapevine, a suburb of Dallas, Texas. Both teams fared well in their...

The Trailblazer Series invites girls to Dodger Stadium and features panels of women executives of MLB and other industries

COMPTON, Calif. -- Diya Buonincontro would like to someday play Major League Baseball. If she can’t do that, her second choice is to be the next Jessica Mendoza and commentate on the sport. But she may want to also consider a Plan C and aim to use her brainpower to...

LOS ANGELES -- For all three years it has existed, the Trailblazer Series has included a trip to Dodger Stadium, where reminders of the contributions of the ultimate trailblazer, Jackie Robinson, are everywhere. This year, nearly 100 girls ages 11-13 are participating in the all-girls baseball tournament, which is held...

LOS ANGELES -- The approximately 100 girls who have gathered here this week were reminded by the highest-ranking woman in Major League Baseball that being stubborn and determined are two of the best qualities to get them through life’s journeys. “That’s what trailblazers do,” said Kim Ng, MLB’s senior vice...

Veronica Alvarez joins MLB Central to talk about the third annual Trailblazer Series and representing the US at the PanAm Games

Natasha Watley, Sahvanna Jaquish and Tamara Holmes participate in National Girls and Women in Sports Day Play Ball events in Compton, CA

COMPTON, Calif. -- In spite of uncustomary Southern California rain in Saturday's early hours, Natasha Watley shone in her first appearance as Major League Baseball's youth softball ambassador. An Olympic gold medal-winning infielder, Watley hosted two events at the MLB Youth Academy in Compton in recognition of National Girls and...