European Development Tournament launches baseball development efforts by MLB to celebrate the 2024 London Series presented by Zoom Workplace

Tournament Featuring 86 Secondary School & College-level Players From 13 Nations Across Europe To Be Played at Farnham Park Baseball & Softball Complex in Slough; Events to Grow the Sport also include “PLAY BALL” in Cardiff with Nike RBI Wales, First Pitch Festival in London, and an MLB Together Legacy Unveil at Roger Ascham Primary School

May 31st, 2024

Major League Baseball today announced the schedule of development-focused activities connected to the 2024 London Series presented by Zoom Workplace, led by the annual European Development Tournament and including youth engagement events in the United Kingdom (London and Cardiff). The programs are designed to grow and promote baseball and softball throughout the United Kingdom and beyond.

The European Development Tournament, at Farnham Park Baseball & Softball Complex, which is a facility operated by BaseballSoftballUK (BSUK), will be held from Tuesday, June 4th through Friday, June 7th. The MLB-operated tournament will feature 86 of the best amateur baseball players (ages 15-20) from 13 countries across Europe, including:

  • United Kingdom (Great Britain) – Two (2) players
  • Austria – Five (5) players
  • Belgium – One (1) player
  • Bulgaria – One (1) player
  • Czech Republic – Thirteen (13) players
  • France – Thirteen (13) players
  • Germany – Twelve (12) players
  • Italy – Nine (9) players
  • Netherlands – Thirteen (13) players
  • Norway – Two (2) players
  • Slovakia – Three (3) players
  • Spain – Nine (9) players
  • Sweden – Three (3) players
  • Address: Farnham Park Baseball & Softball Complex, Beaconsfield Rd., Slough SL2 3BP, UK
  • Schedule of Times:
  • Tuesday, June 4th – Showcase Workouts for MLB Scouts (10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.)
  • Wednesday, June 5th-Friday, June 7th – (Games) – 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.

On Tuesday, June 4th, Major League Baseball will join Nike RBI Wales for a special PLAY BALL event at University of South Wales, Sport Park in Cardiff, Wales. The group will host approximately 200-300 primary school children for an interactive experience that will include a host of fun, casual forms of playing baseball and softball.

  • Address: Treforest Industrial Estate, Pontypridd CF37 5UP, United Kingdom
  • Schedule of Times: 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

On Wednesday, June 5th and Thursday, June 6th primary school children in London will have the opportunity to participate in the London-based First Pitch Festival at the London Marathon Community Track with children in Liverpool being able to participate in their own festival on Wednesday, June 26th. Now in its fourth year, MLB First Pitch is a grassroots skills program aimed at introducing a new generation of players to baseball. The UK-based program has grown to 14,000 primary school children that participated through 2023.

MLB has worked together with BSUK and the Greater London Authority as part of the London Legacy Group alongside Youth Sport Trust to offer fun and inclusive resources to spark an interest in physical activity, sport, and the game of baseball. In addition to play and basic skill development, First Pitch also develops personal skills like teamwork, leadership, resilience, self-esteem and critical thinking. The upcoming London Marathon Community Track event in East London, will be joined by MLB Legends, representing the Mets and Phillies, as well as MLB PLAY BALL Ambassador Coach Ballgame, who will help introduce the participants to the game. To drive growth and inspire more communities to experience the charm of the sport, MLB First Pitch is one part of MLB’s £1m investment to develop and implement a program of activity by 2026. The investment will go toward a new wide reaching legacy program running between 2023 and 2026, which includes 50 community outreach projects.

  • Address: London Marathan Community Track E20 2ST
  • Schedule of Times: 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
  • Who: Primary Schools (grades 4-6) that are part of MLB First Pitch Program

On Friday, June 7th, Commissioner of Baseball Robert M. Manfred Jr., New York Mets Owner & President of the Amazin’ Mets Foundation Alex Cohen, the Managing Partner & Principal Owner of the Philadelphia Phillies John Middleton, and other MLB Legends will visit one of the MLB First Pitch Schools, Roger Ascham Primary School, to make a special MLB Together unveil of a newly installed playground baseball diamond and First Pitch demonstration by the Roger Ascham students and teachers. Prior to the demonstration, the Mets and Phillies will have a reading assembly featuring Mr. Met, Mrs. Met and the Phillie Phanatic.

This marks MLB’s third series played in London, following the inaugural series that was held in June 2019 between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, and last June’s series between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals.