Youth players test their 'baseball IQ' in '24 Breakthrough Series

The 2024 Breakthrough Series opened on Friday, the first of many MLB Develops programs that will be held at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Fla., during an always-busy summer season.

Approximately 80 diverse, elite-level high school-aged players from across the country received an invitation to what has been called the “development experience of a lifetime.”

The series, established in 2008, is a joint effort between Major League Baseball and USA Baseball. During the event, participants receive hands-on instruction and mentorship from former Major League players, managers, and coaches.

“This is by far one of the best events in the whole country,” former Major Leaguer and MLB Develops coach Marquis Grissom said. “[MLB chief baseball development officer] Tony Reagins and [vice president of baseball development] Del [Matthews], what they put on with the Dream Series, the Hank Aaron [Invitational], all the events that they put on are unbelievable.”

The players are selected from the 2025 and '26 graduating classes, and represent a wide variety of baseball programs, including MLB Youth Academies and the NIKE-sponsored Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program.

The program focuses on developing players on and off the field through guest seminars, pro-mentorship, live gameplay, scouting evaluations, video coverage and the highest level of instruction youth baseball development has to offer.

Through this program, players become a part of the MLB and USA Baseball diversity pipeline, which includes the Breakthrough Series moniker, as well as the Dream Series and Elite Development Invitational, among others.

These are all additional development and instructional opportunities that eligible players can take advantage of throughout the year.

Notable Breakthrough Series alumni who have appeared on Major League rosters this year include Taj Bradley (Rays), Lawrence Butler (A's), Josiah Gray (Nationals), Michael Harris II (Braves), Ke’Bryan Hayes (Pirates) and Joe Jiménez (Braves).

Grissom, a four-time Gold Glove Award winner who was part of the 1995 World Series champion Braves, views the Breakthrough Series as a representative of some of the highest-caliber development opportunities available in diamond sports.

He has been a developmental coach with MLB for almost a decade and has seen first-hand the benefits of having these young players participate in these events.

“To really give these kids an opportunity to learn the game a little bit more, get their baseball IQ up and developing them to become fine young men,” Grissom said. “I'm just happy to be here and to be a part of this because this is history. This will be around long after I'm gone and left the earth. These kids will have an opportunity to develop their talent and their skill and get it to that next level, whatever it may be.”

Jerry Manuel, a former Major League infielder who went on to manage the White Sox (1998-03) and Mets (2008-10), is another long-time Develops coach and a staple at most events. He feels MLB has taken significant strides to invest in under-represented and diverse talent.

“Major League Baseball has stepped up and invested in these young men and in this facility, and that gives us an opportunity to create some talent that hopefully makes our game better,” Manuel said.

The events are free -- and the rewards far outweigh the cost, given the volume of elite players who have sharpened their skills at these events over the years.

“The talent is tremendous. The talent gets better every year. The athlete gets better every year. ... And what we have to do is be cognizant of that and be the best instructors we can be,” Manuel said. “I just want to make sure that they get something they can take home with them and that they go home healthy and happy.”

Bryce Miller, class of 2025 right-handed pitcher and catcher, traveled from San Diego to take part in the Breakthrough Series. He is one of the many young players present who will put in days of intense training and testing, with one thing in mind.

“We all have the same passion, we want to make it to the big leagues. ... Everyone gets along with each other, the chemistry is just there because we know we have the same passion, same goal in life,” Miller said.

Miller, like other participants of the program, is grateful to be part of MLB’s Develops events.

“I'm just blessed to be able to have this opportunity,” Miller said. “It means a lot and I know not a lot of kids get this chance. So I'm really grateful for being here and that they invite me back.”