MiLB becomes official partner of 'PLAY BALL'
Major League Baseball announced that Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) has become an official partner of the 'PLAY BALL' initiative, the sport's largest collective effort to encourage young people to participate in baseball- or softball-related activities. Through this partnership, MiLB will support the second annual 'PLAY BALL WEEKEND,' including spearheading the effort's official launch with the Oklahoma City Dodgers on June 2, as well as 'PLAY BALL SUMMER' with the U.S. Conference of Mayors in hosting more than 200 youth and community-focused events throughout the United States and Puerto Rico this summer (June-August).
"We are thrilled to welcome Minor League Baseball and its 160 Clubs as official supporters of the 'PLAY BALL' initiative," said Tony Reagins, Senior Vice President of Youth Programs, Major League Baseball. "As one of the most family-friendly experiences in professional sports, Minor League Clubs are natural partners in this effort, especially in parallel to the fun and creative ways they engage their millions of fans. This is an important step toward reaching more young people in communities outside our direct Major League markets."
"Through Minor League Baseball's involvement in PLAY BALL, our organization and its 160 clubs will play a central role in growing the great game of baseball for many years to come," said Minor League Baseball President & CEO Pat O'Conner. "MiLB's participation in 'PLAY BALL Weekend' further reinforces our role as a community champion, where we can pass our love for the game on to the next generation and build a foundation at an early age. Minor League Baseball is proud to collaborate with our partners at Major League Baseball on this important and timely initiative."
Minor League Baseball is joining the second annual 'PLAY BALL WEEKEND' to now make the campaign both an MLB- and MiLB-wide effort to engage young baseball fans and celebrate the continued support of youth participation in baseball and softball. PLAY BALL WEEKEND is officially scheduled for June 3 and 4, however, Major and Minor League Clubs not at home that weekend will host activities at another date. On June 2, the Oklahoma City Dodgers will help launch the effort at their ballpark (Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark) by hosting hundreds of kids, along with MLB and MiLB representatives, in a signature 'PLAY BALL' event that will highlight the fun, casual ways to play baseball and softball.
In 2015, Major League Baseball launched the "PLAY BALL" initiative as the sport's largest collective effort to encourage young people to participate 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, particularly in connection with key dates from Spring Training, through the MLB Championship Season and into the Postseason and World Series. PLAY BALL aims to highlight the fun and community-focused natures of the game at the Major League, professional, amateur and youth levels.