Former MLB player and coach and current ESPN analyst Eduardo Pérez has been named President of the Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.), announced earlier today at the 2025 Winter Meetings presented by CohnReznick in Orlando, FL. Pérez will assume the role on February 1, 2026, at the conclusion of current B.A.T. President Buck Martinez’s term. Funded primarily through current player donations, B.A.T. provides life-changing grants to support members of the Baseball Family during times of hardship.
Pérez has served on the B.A.T. Board of Directors since 2020 and has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to supporting the Baseball Family both on and off the field. He is also the co-host of the Leadoff Spot on the MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM. In addition, Pérez broadcasted the World Series on ESPN Radio and has covered international baseball, including the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). He also founded the Winter Training, dedicated to the continued development of professional baseball players during the offseason.
“B.A.T. has always represented the heartbeat of the Baseball Family. Long before I reached a Major League field, this organization was already taking care of our own during their toughest moments,” said Eduardo Pérez, the newly appointed B.A.T. President. “From players to families, from past generations to the next, B.A.T. reflects the very best of what this game stands for. I’m honored to lead an organization that has shaped the culture of care in baseball and to help carry that mission forward.”
The change in leadership comes as B.A.T. prepares to celebrate its 40th Anniversary in 2026, marking four decades of unwavering commitment to supporting the Baseball Family. Ranging from easing the burden of medical bills to providing scholarships for players pursuing further education, B.A.T. exemplifies the baseball community’s commitment to taking care of its own.
To date, the organization has awarded more than $73 million in grants, benefiting more than 13,500 members of the Baseball Family, including current and former, on-field Major & Minor League personnel (players, managers, coaches) as well as scouts, umpires, athletic trainers, Major & Minor League front office personnel, Negro League players and players from the Women's League of Professional Baseball. B.A.T.’s coverage also extends to widows, widowers and children, ages 26 and under, of the above groups. All aid provided by B.A.T. is provided confidentially to protect the privacy and dignity of those in need. For more information about the Baseball Assistance Team, please visit: www.MLB.com/baseball-assistance-team.