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.
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are thrilled to celebrate Major League Baseball’s PLAY BALL Weekend, a Weekend dedicated to fun, learning, and growing the game. Saturday, June 6, 2026, begins with a can’t‑miss kids experience before gates open. Families are invited to the Braves Block Party in The Battery Atlanta, where young fans can take swings in our inflatable batting cage, test their speed in the baserunning challenge and see how they stack up against the pros, enjoy interactive games, activities, surprises, and more. Once gates open, kids of all ages are encouraged to visit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Park for an interactive wiffle ball experience. All kids playing at Hope and Will’s Sandlot in Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Park prior to first pitch will receive a free Franklin bat and ball set while supplies last. The day will celebrate baseball, softball, and the next generation of players and provide additional opportunities to learn about how the Atlanta Braves continue to Grow the Game of baseball and softball in our community.
Arizona Diamondbacks
As part of MLB PLAY BALL Weekend, the Arizona Diamondbacks will host a Pitch, Hit & Run competition in partnership with MLB and RCX Sports for participants in the club’s 26th annual D-backs Inter-Tribal Youth Baseball & Softball Tournament presented by Talking Stick Resort. The tournament is the only Native American youth baseball and softball tournament hosted by a Major League Baseball club, bringing together nearly 1,500 athletes from more than 20 tribes and eight states. The Pitch, Hit & Run competition will serve as the official kickoff to the tournament, giving Native American youth ages 7-14 the opportunity to showcase their pitching, hitting and running abilities through MLB’s official youth skills competition at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on June 7. Following the event, participants will attend Native American Recognition Day at Chase Field, where they will be recognized on the field before tournament play begins the following day.
Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles are hosting four different events to celebrate PLAY BALL Weekend. On Thursday, June 4, the club will host the Baltimore High School Minority Coaches Alliance for a seven-inning All-Star game of senior baseball players. The coaches, through tryouts, have selected 15 Baltimore City and 15 Baltimore County senior baseball players who did not make the Brooks Robinson All-Star game to participate in this special event which is open to the public. On Friday, June 5, the Orioles, along with Baltimore Child First Authority, Inc., will conduct a PLAY BALL Clinic at F.L. Templeton Prep Academy, consisting of drills to help students practice the sport of baseball and be active outside. Stations will allow students to learn the skills of throwing, running, hitting, and catching, all while having fun. All participants will receive a Wiffle ball and bat set from MLB. Volunteers from Orange and Black Gives Back, as well as Baltimore Child First Authority, will assist the students for the day. On Saturday, June 6, the Orioles will host the Nike RBI 15U and 18U Regional Teams for a game against the Williamsport 15U RBI Regional Team and the Philadelphia 18U RBI Regional Team for a showcase of the best talent in the area. To close out the weekend, in partnership with Baltimore County Recs and Parks, the Orioles will hold a Pitch, Hit, and Run event at Sollers Point Park for local area athletes including members of the RBI teams. For the first time, the event will also include a Pitch, Hit, and Run for children with developmental and/or physical challenges who are part of the Challenger League.
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox and Red Sox Foundation will celebrate PLAY BALL through a series of youth-focused events designed to introduce and expand access to baseball and softball across Greater Boston. Activities begin with a PLAY BALL Recess at the Ohrenberger School in West Roxbury, engaging more than 450 students in skill-building baseball and softball stations, with appearances by Red Sox mascot Wally the Green Monster and interactive entertainment. The club and foundation will also participate in the Special Olympics Boston Public Schools Unified Game Day, providing adaptive baseball activities and equipment giveaways for participating students. The celebration concludes with the Red Sox Foundation’s annual Miracle League of Massachusetts takeover, featuring visits from Wally and Tessie, end-of-season festivities, and PLAY BALL equipment and T-shirt giveaways.
Chicago Cubs
In support of PLAY BALL Weekend, the Chicago Cubs will host a free “Youth Baseball and Softball Festival” at Gallagher Way Sunday, June 7, from 10 a.m.-noon CT for roughly 300 young fans. The festival will bring the fun to the historic landmark with kid-friendly activities such as face painters, balloon artists, and caricaturists as well as baseball activities, sweet treats and more. The club’s mascot, Clark the Cub, will also make an appearance, surprise and delighting young fans in attendance.
Chicago White Sox
In celebration of PLAY BALL Weekend, the Chicago White Sox will hold a free PLAY BALL Youth Clinic on Sunday, June 7 at Nathan Hale Park (6258 W 62nd St) in Chicago. Open to boys and girls, ages 5–13, this high-energy clinic offers two sessions at 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Led by professional coaches, participants will learn the fundamentals of hitting, throwing and fielding through engaging drills, followed by fun games to put their skills into action. For more information and to register, visit whitesox.com/playball.
Cincinnati Reds
To celebrate PLAY BALL Weekend, the Cincinnati Reds and Reds Community Fund are hosting an official Major League Baseball Pitch Hit & Run competition on Sunday, June 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy in Roselawn. Pitch Hit & Run offers an opportunity for boys and girls aged 7 to 14 to showcase their baseball and softball talents in a fun and free event. Participants will be evaluated on their skills in pitching, hitting, and running, with their scores tallied for a chance to progress to the Regionals at Great American Ball Park. The highest achievers at GABP will then earn an all-expenses-paid trip for two to compete at the Finals, held during the 2026 World Series. All participants will receive a Franklin bat and ball set and Reds hat. Reds mascots will be in attendance along with a DJ, circus performers, face painters, LaRosa’s Pizza and a Kona Ice truck.
Colorado Rockies
In support of PLAY BALL Weekend, the Colorado Rockies are celebrating youth baseball and softball with a series of fun, community-focused activities. The Rockies will host a PLAY BALL Weekend clinic at the Boys & Girls Club Owens Branch with approximately 250 kids, while also welcoming young fans to Coors Field on June 6 and 7, where kids ages 5–12 can stop by a batting cage outside Gate A to take swings before the game. Each participant will receive a free bat and ball set courtesy of Major League Baseball. In addition, the Rockies will host more than 2,000 local youth baseball and softball players for special pregame parades around the warning track on both Saturday and Sunday.
Detroit Tigers
As part of the Detroit Tigers PLAY BALL Weekend, the organization will host a youth baseball and softball clinic on June 7 to develop skills and grow the game throughout the Detroit community. The event is expected to host over 250 participants and will include several family entertainment elements including a live DJ, airbrush tattoo artists, inflatable activations and more. Following the clinic, registered families are invited to attend a special Kids Take the Field experience at Comerica Park, where they will be joined by an additional 250+ participants to enjoy a Tigers game and a post-game on-field experience, including the opportunity to run the bases. The Detroit Tigers are proud to be a part of PLAY BALL and further their commitment to youth baseball and softball by providing accessible opportunities for kids and families to stay active and build lasting connections within the community.
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals will celebrate PLAY BALL Weekend beginning on Friday, June 5, with the Royals x Chiefs Clinic at the Kansas City Royals Urban Youth Academy. The camp brings together both organizations for a morning focused on skill development, teamwork and fun across both baseball and football. That evening, the UYA will host an invite-only RBI Celebration Play Ball Clinic. This special event will celebrate the Royals RBI community with age-appropriate activities, including a T-ball clinic, a wiffle ball tournament, food and festivities, while also marking the conclusion of the Junior RBI season.
- On Saturday, June 6, the Royals will host a free PLAY BALL Clinic at Kauffman Stadium, introducing baseball and softball fundamentals. Participants will rotate through skill-building stations focused on fundamentals, teamwork and play.
- The weekend concludes on Sunday, June 7, with Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run at the UYA. This free event gives young athletes the chance to showcase their pitching, hitting and running skills, with the opportunity to advance to the national finals during the World Series.
Houston Astros
In honor of MLB’s PLAY BALL Weekend, the Astros will host a variety of camps and events throughout the greater Houston area, June 5-7.
- On Friday, June 5 from 9:30 am-12 pm, the Astros will host a PLAY BALL Clinic for 200 campers attending Astros Youth Academy Summer Camp at the South Post Oak Sportsplex in Fort Bend County.
- On Saturday, June 6, all 350 Astros Youth Academy Nike RBI baseball and softball players will receive tickets to attend the Astros vs. A’s game that afternoon as a part of the PLAY BALL initiative.
- Wrapping up the weekend on Sunday, June 7, the Astros Youth Academy will host a special PLAY BALL Clinic at Daikin Park for 75 Special Olympics Texas athletes. All participants will also be given tickets to attend the Astros vs. A’s game later that afternoon.
Los Angeles Dodgers
As part of Major League Baseball’s Play Ball Weekend, the Los Angeles Dodgers will host a PLAY BALL clinic at Edison Language Academy in Santa Monica on Friday, June 5, bringing baseball and softball instruction directly to more than 400 local elementary school students. The clinic will introduce students to the fundamentals of the game through interactive skill-building stations, while emphasizing youth participation, health, and community engagement. Programming will be offered in both Spanish and English, reflecting the school’s 40-year dual-language model and ensuring accessibility for all participants.
Miami Marlins
In celebration of MLB’s Play Ball Weekend, the Miami Marlins and Miami Marlins Foundation are set to transform the Miami Marlins MLB Youth Academy into a dynamic hub of baseball and softball excitement on Saturday, June 6. This community-focused event in the City of Hialeah aims to inspire a love for the game among South Florida youth through engaging, inclusive activities that celebrate baseball and softball in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. Kicking off the day, children ages 7–14 are invited to participate in a free Pitch, Hit & Run competition, providing young athletes the opportunity to showcase their skills through interactive drills and friendly competition. Following the event, a featured Marlins Nike RBI game will take center stage with “The Show” treatment, complete with a live DJ, bilingual public address announcer, in-game host, Billy the Marlin, and the Marlins Roosters, bringing the energy and excitement of a Major League gameday directly to the community. Families and fans will enjoy a vibrant celebration of youth baseball and softball throughout the day, as the Miami Marlins MLB Youth Academy comes alive with activities designed to engage players, families, and fans while highlighting the impact of the game across South Florida.
Milwaukee Brewers
To celebrate PLAY BALL Weekend, the Milwaukee Brewers will host youth baseball and softball clinics on Saturday, June 6 at 9 a.m. at Baran Park, featuring alumni Bill Castro, Jerry Augustine, Jim Gantner and Vinny Rottino and the Brewers mascots. Hundreds of young participants from across Wisconsin are expected to attend the morning of activities and will receive a free bat and ball set and lunch. The morning will begin with remarks from Alderman José G. Pérez, 15th District Supervisor Sky Capriolo, Brewers Community Foundation Executive Director Cecelia Gore and Journey House Athletics Director Martin Weddle.
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Twins Community Fund know baseball and softball change lives — and every kid deserves a chance to play. The Twins are in the game year‑round: hosting 60+ free youth clinics (yes, even in winter), backing Twins Nike RBI teams in Minneapolis and St. Paul, fielding two girls baseball squads, supporting athletes with disabilities, and funding coaching clinics, equipment kits and facility upgrades. Thousands of kids across Twins Territory feel the impact every season! During 2026 PLAY BALL Weekend the Twins will:
- Support the tremendous athletes participating in the Minnesota State High School League Softball Championships on Friday, June 5 at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium (University of Minnesota).
- Continue the club’s industry-leading inclusivity efforts by partnering with NubAbility to host free baseball and softball clinics for limb‑different athletes on Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7 — with participants honored at Target Field during pregame festivities before the Twins’ June 5 home game vs. the Kansas City Royals.
- Bring free youth baseball and softball clinics to the Prairie Island Indian Community for kids ages 6–12 on Saturday, June 6.
New York Mets
On Saturday, June 6, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation will host the Junior Mets All-Girls Baseball Clinic at Citi Field, welcoming girls from Little Leagues and youth baseball and softball programs across the region for a morning of instruction, mentorship, and empowerment. Through this special event, players will develop their skills, build confidence, and continue chasing their dreams both on and off the field.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies are proud to host several community events during MLB’s PLAY BALL Weekend, with the mission of getting kids in the game. The exciting lineup, led by the club’s youth baseball and softball development team, will begin on Friday, June 5, with a Pitch, Hit & Run contest with the Phillies Ballgirls at The Lighthouse field in North Philadelphia for both baseball and softball players, ages 7-14. On Saturday, June 6, the Phillies MLB Urban Youth Academy fields in FDR Park will have a fun-filled morning, with a youth baseball clinic at Dick Allen Field, and a youth softball clinic at the team’s softball fields. The baseball clinics will feature instruction from former players including 1993 National League champions Tommy Greene, Mickey Morandini and Milt Thompson, as well as 1980 World Series champion Dickie Noles and the Phillies Ballgirls. Plus, all registered participants will receive MLB PLAY BALL Weekend t-shirts. The jam-packed weekend will conclude with a Youth Softball Celebration at the Phillies UYA softball fields at FDR Park, with local teams participating in a five-station clinic.
Pittsburgh Pirates
On Saturday, June 6, the Pirates will play host to the 2026 Play Ball Weekend Festivities at PNC Park. The Pirates will provide two free clinics for kids ages 5-14 on the same field where their favorite Pirates play. In addition, the Pirates will host a Play Ball Clinic with the US Conference of Mayors, inviting local Mayors and their constituents to the ballpark to hone their baseball skills and learn some new tips and tricks. These introductory clinics will allow athletes to participate in multiple stations including pitching, hitting, fielding, and baserunning. Each player will also take home an exclusive Play Ball Bat & Ball set.
San Diego Padres
The Padres are celebrating PLAY BALL Weekend at Petco Park and beyond with various activations, including:
- June 5 – The Padres are hosting a Future Padres Little League team at Padres batting practice prior to the game, during which the little leaguers will receive brand-new custom City Connect batting gloves, courtesy of Franklin Sports and gifted by a Padres player.
- June 6 – The club is hosting 100 children from its Padres Rookie League program for a clinic with Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS). The clinic will take place in the outfield at Petco Park, and participants will have the opportunity to engage in baseball and wellness-focused activities led by Padres athletic trainers.
- Additionally, for the first time in nearly 30 years, the Padres will have a presence in Hawaii when they host an inaugural youth baseball clinic on June 6 for 100 children at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
San Francisco Giants
The Giants Community Fund -- the 501(c)(3) public charity of the San Francisco Giants -- will celebrate MLB’s PLAY BALL Weekend on Saturday, June 6 with a series of free PLAY BALL Events held across Northern California. Designed for youth ages 5-13, the hour-long clinics introduce baseball fundamentals in a fun, welcoming and accessible environment ahead of the Junior Giants season.
- As part of MLB’s nationwide PLAY BALL initiative, the Giants Community Fund will host pop-up clinics that encourage kids of all backgrounds and skill levels to get active, build confidence and experience the joy of the game. Participants will take part in interactive drills while learning the values of teamwork, leadership, confidence and integrity that are central to the Junior Giants program.
- Junior Giants, presented by Bank of America, is the flagship program of the Giants Community Fund and one of the largest MLB-affiliated youth development programs in the country. The free, noncompetitive program serves 28,000 youth annually across California, Nevada and Oregon by removing barriers to participation and creating opportunities for young people to grow both on and off the field.
Seattle Mariners
The Mariners will be activating PLAY BALL events across the Club's five state region and supporting PLAY BALL events through their affiliates with a goal of serving over 1,500 youth. The Club will host pop-up events with Minor League affiliates and independent league partners in Everett, Tacoma, Boise, Missoula, Little Rock and San Bernardino over PLAY BALL Weekend from June 5-7. The Mariners will continue PLAY BALL efforts during the summer with events in Anchorage (June 27), Fairbanks (July 3), Gresham (June 18), Seattle (Aug 22) and a special Play Softball Portland (June 19) event in partnership with the AUSL and Portland Cascade. Additionally, the annual PLAY BALL Challenger game will be hosted at T-Mobile Park on July 5 ahead of the Mariners game against the Blue Jays. Mariners PLAY BALL participants receive bat and ball sets, plus other Mariners gear.
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals will celebrate PLAY BALL Weekend with a series of youth-focused baseball and softball activities at Busch Stadium and throughout the community. Activations include Redbird Rookies PLAY BALL clinics and in-game experiences for youth participants, Kids Club Sunday festivities featuring interactive games and giveaways, and special pregame opportunities such as lineup card exchanges, PA for a Day, and Kids Ask the Player sessions. The club will also host the Cardinals Nike RBI PLAY BALL Invitational Tournament and a local Pitch, Hit & Run event as part of MLB’s initiative to encourage youth participation in baseball and softball.
Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers will host a full slate of events for PLAY BALL weekend at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy, which provides free, year-round baseball and softball programming for athletes ages 7-18. On Friday, June 5, the Rangers will host summer training for 12U and 18U baseball and softball athletes featuring PLAY BALL shirt, bat and ball distributions. The Academy will host the PLAY BALL MLB Players Alumni Association Legends Clinic on Sunday, June 6, connecting former Major Leaguers with athletes ages 7-12 for skill development and Q&A sessions with legends of the game.
Toronto Blue Jays
Blue Jays Baseball Academy will host three PLAY BALL Weekend events across Ontario on June 5, 6, and 7. On Friday, the club will host a Pitch, Hit, & Run event in Toronto for players aged 7 to 14, as well as open a newly refurbished field at Christie Pits as part of Jays Care Foundation’s ‘Field of Dreams’, which provides funding to design, refurbish, and build local baseball and softball diamonds in communities across the country. On Saturday, the Academy will travel to Etobicoke, ON for a girls clinic and a second Pitch, Hit, & Run event. The weekend concludes on Sunday with a Challenger Baseball Skills Day for kids aged 8 to 12 with physical and cognitive disabilities, and a military clinic in Trenton, ON, for kids and families connected to active or retired military members. Through the MLB Together Military Grant Program, the Academy and Jays Care will present a $20,000 donation to Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services. At Rogers Centre, PLAY BALL Weekend will be celebrated on June 6 & 7 with baseball-themed activities throughout the ballpark, including Jr. Jay Sunday and Jr. Jays Club first pitch, starting lineup, and 7th inning stretch.
Washington Nationals
The Nationals will host 500 youth and their families at their PLAY BALL Weekend event on Saturday, June 6, at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The event includes a fun, fast-paced clinic for participants ages 5-14. All participants will receive a Nationals PLAY BALL T-shirt, a PLAY BALL bat and ball set and a healthy lunch provided by D.C. Central Kitchen. Special guests from the Washington Nationals will also make an appearance during the event.