Jennie Finch Empowerment Award given to softball player Jaidy Rodriguez
VERO BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Nike RBI World Series served up excitement from start to finish, and after two weeks of action on the baseball and softball fields, the players and fans in attendance were left with plenty of fond memories to take home with them.
Hosted at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, the tournament featured over 120 athletes from 24 different teams across three divisions -- one softball division, with junior and senior divisions for baseball.
Three teams eventually emerged as champions: the Detroit Tigers Nike RBI program in the softball division, the Dodgers Dream Team Nike RBI program in the junior baseball division and the Arizona Diamondbacks Nike RBI program for the seniors.
Even with so much energy dedicated to winning each game and advancing to the next round, the primary focus of the RBI program -- empowering and providing support for baseball and softball communities within underserved communities across both the country and the world -- is always top of mind.
The Nike RBI World Series, like all other marquee MLB and softball development programs, included a presentation of the Jennie Finch Empowerment Award, presented by ARM & HAMMER, to a deserving recipient in the softball division.
This year’s honor went to infielder Jaidy Rodriguez of the Perth Amboy Nike RBI program.
“I'm really excited because not only is this a reflection of myself, but a reflection of my team,” said Rodriguez.
The award, now in its seventh year, is given to softball players at MLB’s jewel youth events: the Nike RBI World Series, All-Star Jennie Finch Classic, Breakthrough Series and Elite Development Invitational.
It is presented to a player who displays the guiding principles the award is founded on: leadership, motivation, commitment, dedication, humility and integrity.
Softball legend Jennie Finch presented Rodriguez, who recently graduated from high school, with a $10,000 check as a scholarship for college, and announced to the group that Rodriguez will be making a trip to the 2025 World Series, alongside her fellow JFEA winners from other MLB events.
“I think she's a true definition of this award,” said Perth Amboy teammate Izabella Pardo. “Whenever there's community service going on or events in our town, she's always there helping out.”
“When we think we're down, she comes next to us and she brings us up,” said another teammate, Johanny Almonte. “If I need her, I know I can count on her.”
This sort of dependability and integrity is what made Rodriguez stand out to coaches and staff who are tasked with choosing a single candidate for the award -- a difficult process when the playing field has plenty of eligible candidates.
“On the field, I aspire to be a calm teammate,” said Rodriguez. “I feel like sometimes you can get lost in all the loud cheers and the intense moments.”
There were plenty of those during the Nike RBI World Series, so Rodriguez was in her element for the entirety of the tournament, helping lead her team to a quarterfinal appearance.
“At the end of the day, you just have to go to the plate, do your plays, and take it all with grace,” Rodriguez said.