How clubs across Minor League Baseball are celebrating PLAY BALL Weekend

PLAY BALL Weekend is almost here, and Minor League clubs have put together an exciting calendar of events to celebrate MLB’s youth engagement initiative. Some clubs are hosting youth clinics or other events in their home ballparks while others are bringing the joy of baseball and softball into the local community.

For more information on PLAY BALL Weekend or to find a local MiLB or MLB PLAY BALL initiative near you, visit milb.com/playballweekend or mlb.com/play-ball. Here are some club initiatives to keep an eye out for this weekend:

Fayetteville Woodpeckers
Single-A affiliate of the Houston Astros
Dates: June 14-15
Over two days at Segra Stadium, the Woodpeckers' home ballpark, the club will host a baseball clinic with drill stations focused on skills and fun. The club also has some equipment available for any children who need to borrow a glove, bat or helmet.

Hillsboro Hops
High-A affiliate of the Arizona D-backs
Date: June 14
The Hops will host introductory baseball and softball clinics for children ages 5-10 at eight different locations throughout Hillsboro, Oregon. Instruction at one of the clinics will be held entirely in Spanish and another is dedicated to softball. The participants will rotate through several skill stations and receive a complimentary ticket to a game, swag bag from local youth baseball organization, Friends of Baseball, and shirt from Nike Diamond.

Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
Single-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox
Date: June 14
The Cannon Ballers have invited youth from the local Miracle League and youngsters with diverse abilities to Atrium Health Ballpark for an afternoon of fun. Participants will have the opportunity to play on the Cannon Ballers’ home field, hit in the batting cages, run the bases, and meet the team mascot, Boomer.

Lansing Lugnuts
High-A affiliate of the Athletics
Date: June 13
Local youngsters are invited to Jackson Field to take batting practice ahead of Lansing’s game against West Michigan. The kids will be able to watch from the field as the Lugnuts take batting practice before a Q&A session with select players and coaches. Finally, participants will get to spend an exclusive hour in the ballpark play area, ‘Big Lug’s Playground.’

Norfolk Tides
Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles
Date: June 13
The Tides and the club mascots will be headed to Bettie F. Williams Elementary School in Virginia Beach, Virginia to play whiffle ball with the students and have an ice cream party.

Oklahoma City Comets
Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers
Date: June 14
The Comets, in partnership with USA Softball and OKC Spark, will host a free youth baseball clinic for children ages 4-11 at the nearby US Grant High School softball field. The clinic will feature fun, skill-building activities with stations focused on hitting, fielding, agility and running. Participants will receive a complimentary t-shirt, Franklin Bat and Ball set and a free MLB/MiLB.TV subscription.

Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins
Date: June 13
Blue Wahoos Stadium will host a free youth clinic for children from ages 6-12 that celebrates the tradition of the Fred Waters Baseball Camp, which was founded and named after the former Major Leaguer and longtime coach in the region.

Rochester Red Wings
Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals
Date: June 14
The Red Wings have invited 12 teams from a local “Challenger” program for young players with physical and intellectual challenges, to play at Innovative Field. Each team will get a chance to run through their lineups twice and enjoy postgame hot dogs and fries with their families. Participants will also receive a free ticket to a future Red Wings game.

San Antonio Missions
Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres
Date: June 14
The Missions, in conjunction with the San Antonio Police Athletic League, will sponsor and provide equipment and uniforms for six teams made up of young people from underserved areas to participate in three games at Nelson Wolff Stadium.

Somerset Patriots
Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees
Date: June 14
The Patriots will host an MLB Pitch, Hit & Run competition for local youth at their home stadium, TD Bank Ballpark.

South Bend Cubs
High-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs
Date: June 14
Four Winds Field will host the Indiana High School Athletic Association's Semi-State Baseball Tournament, and the games will be getting the full Minor League Baseball treatment, complete with on-field contests, mascots, and more.

Toledo Mud Hens
Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers
Date: June 14
The Toledo Mud Hens are teaming up with the Toledo Police Athletic League to host baseball and softball clinics for children from ages 4 to 12 at Toledo PAL Field. The clinics feature five skill stations for participants to learn baseball fundamentals, and all participants will receive a free PLAY BALL-branded bat and ball set.