PLAY BALL Weekend 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.
MLB will host two launch events, beginning at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota on Wednesday, June 3rd. As part of MLB’s larger America 250 initiative, participants in Rapid City, South Dakota will partake in the diamond sports event before visiting Mount Rushmore. Following this, an event will be held on June 5th in Pittsburgh where Dick’s Sporting Goods will host 5–12-year-olds at House of Sport in Ross Park. MLB Youth Ambassador, Coach Ballgame will lead both events, with former Pittsburgh Pirates players volunteering as coaches at the Pittsburgh Event.
One of the core focuses of PLAY BALL Weekend will be connecting with youth from different backgrounds, while closing equity gaps to accessing the game, and encouraging youth, families and communities to PLAY BALL. MLB’s year-round PLAY BALL initiative is supported by Kansas City Royals All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who was named MLB’s first-ever Major League PLAY BALL Ambassador in 2025. All 30 Clubs will wear a special PLAY BALL patch on the side of their caps during the weekend.
PLAY BALL WEEKEND 'BY THE NUMBERS'
- 60,000 Franklin PLAY BALL Sets will be distributed for casual play in communities, playgrounds and backyards.
- All 30 MLB Clubs, all 120 MiLB Clubs, 61 Partner League Clubs, and Hundreds of Mayors will host events in celebration of PLAY BALL Weekend.
CLUB ACTIVITY
- All 30 MLB Clubs: Whether at home or on the road, every Major League Club will host PLAY BALL Weekend activities in their communities and/or at their ballparks. A rundown of MLB Club PLAY BALL Weekend activities can be seen at this link.
- All 120 MiLB & Partner League Clubs: All 120 Minor League Baseball teams and 61 Partner Professional, and Amateur Development League Clubs will participate with activities in their home stadium or at a local youth field. For all Minor League PLAY BALL Weekend activities, please visit this link.
GLOBAL EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING
With events spanning six continents, Major League Baseball is working to grow baseball and softball participation around the world. In Asia, PLAY BALL Weekend will be celebrated in China, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Laos, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and India. In addition, events marking the occasion will take place in Australia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Egypt, New Zealand and Nicaragua.
Leading into PLAY BALL Weekend, MLB and Disney launched a new multimedia spot, featuring All-Star shortstop Mookie Betts and his daughter Kynlee to promote Toy Story 5. Within the 30-second commercial, Betts and the Toy Story characters work together to encourage Kynlee to play ball with her dad.
In celebration of PLAY BALL Weekend, first ballot Hall of Famers CC Sabathia and Ken Griffey Jr., alongside former All-Star Harold Reynolds will co-host Play Ball Live powered by Zoom on MLB’s YouTube channel and X account (@MLB). Held at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Florida, the interactive two-hour stream aims to engage, excite and inspire youth baseball and softball players around the world. All-Stars Aaron Judge and Betts are among the special guests set to join the stream, alongside Griffey, Reynolds and Sabathia, who will offer tips on how to improve as a player, share instructional tips and offer insight into their playing days.
This year, PLAY BALL Weekend has been highlighted with a series of new marketing assets under the 'Let's All PLAY BALL' campaign, highlighting the shared joy and community of youth baseball and softball. Each piece of creative tells a different part of the PLAY BALL story, coming together to explain PLAY BALL program benefits, announce key dates, and showcase real participants having fun, making friends, and being themselves. Additionally, MLB is teaming up with new and existing partners to celebrate the event and incentivize play by launching PLAY BALL Weekend interactive social content on Zigazoo, a youth social platform for kids to connect and create in a safe environment, as well as executing a surprise glove giveaway of over 700 Rawlings baseball and softball gloves at three MiLB PLAY BALL events over the weekend.
VIRTUAL PLAY BALL Weekend WITH DIAMOND KINETICS
MLB continues to expand the reach of PLAY BALL Weekend by hosting PLAY BALL events using the Diamond Kinetics mobile app. Kids can participate in PLAY BALL Weekend any place they can swing a bat. The Diamond Kinetics iOS mobile app allows kids to play virtual games, match their swing against Big League All-Stars, take interactive hitting lessons, and join challenges for a chance to win MLB prizes. The Diamond Kinetics App opens a whole new world of fun hitting experiences through PLAY BALL-themed activities that merge real-world swings with digital-mobile content and rewards.
- SwingMatch: Kids take real swings and DK's SmartMotion technology uses the phone's camera to capture and compare their swing motion with MLB All-Stars. Kids will be able to see how closely their swing resembles a dozen MLB players, including Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt, Jr., and many others.
- Interactive Hitting Lessons: With the intent of getting kids swinging more and smiling the whole time, the DK app provides a series of quick, fun, and easy PLAY BALL interactive lessons that teach basic hitting concepts intertwined with MLB game content.
- PLAY BALL Mini-Games: Mini-games are a series of unique, lightweight, tap-based activities that use MLB game highlights to drive engagement, connect kids with MLB players & clubs, and teach aspects of the game.
- Gamifying the Game: Participants earn experience points (XP), unlock rewards, and can customize their avatar with the MLB Club skins, card backgrounds, and PLAY BALL themed badges.
- Extending PLAY BALL Weekend All Season: Many of the activities will remain in the Diamond Kinetics app year-round, so kids can have fun, get better and keep up with their favorite MLB players through unique interactive experiences, anywhere, anytime.
ADDITIONAL PARTNERS
- Franklin Sports – Through the long-term partnership with the family-owned and Boston-based licensee, over 60,000 PLAY BALL sets will be dispersed to youngsters throughout the course of PLAY BALL Weekend and totals more than 1 Million co-branded bat & ball sets donated since the Weekend’s inception.
- U.S. Conference of Mayors – Since 2015, the U.S. Conference of Mayors have been key supporters with customized, community based “Mayor’s PLAY BALL” events that revolve around fun, non-traditional play and skills building.
- PLAY BALL Youth Partners - Groups from Little League Baseball & Softball, Nike Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) and more will participate in various PLAY BALL Weekend activities.
- RCX Sports – The official operator of MLB’s Pitch, Hit & Run skills competition is working with MLB, MiLB & Partner League Clubs, as well as local community organizations, to host over 100 Pitch, Hit & Run contests throughout PLAY BALL Weekend.
PLAY BALL INITIATIVE AND YOUTH PARTICIPATION BY THE NUMBERS
MLB’s PLAY BALL initiative, which launched in 2015 under the direction of Commissioner Manfred, is the League’s signature youth engagement effort. Baseball and softball participation has grown significantly in the 11-year period since the PLAY BALL initiative was established, according to the most recent report from the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA). The update includes:
- Since 2014, casual participation in baseball for ages 6+ has increased +144%
- In each of the last five years, baseball and softball combined to be the overall most participated team sport in the U.S. among kids aged 6-12.
ABOUT PLAY BALL
PLAY BALL is MLB’s signature youth engagement activity that is featured in events all around the United States and Canada. More information on the program, as well as future event updates, can be found at www.PlayBall.org. The PLAY BALL initiative is baseball’s global effort to encourage young people and communities to engage in baseball- or softball-related activities, including formal leagues, special events and casual forms of play. PLAY BALL events have become MLB’s signature youth engagement activity during the professional and amateur baseball and softball calendar, especially on key dates throughout MLB’s Championship Season and through the World Series. PLAY BALL events demonstrate the positive way the game can serve as an outlet for physical activity, fun with friends and learning how to play the sport at its most basic levels. PLAY BALL also serves as the League’s youth umbrella in which all associated programs and events derive from the initiative’s consistent, simple message: However You Play Ball, PLAY BALL! PlayBall.org is the PLAY BALL initiative’s online home and is accessible via MLB.com, USABaseball.com, USASoftball.com and other partner websites.