Nike RBI World Series to be special experience for student-athletes from around the United States, Puerto Rico, and Dominican Republic
Twenty-four baseball and softball teams from every region of the United States will be joined by teams from Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic for the 31st Nike RBI World Series, the annual championship tournament of the Nike Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program, which will be held at its official home, the historic Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, FL.
The tournament will feature more than 325 young athletes on Nike RBI teams from 17 cities in the United States, Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo), and Puerto Rico (Aguadilla). A total of five Nike RBI programs (Atlanta Braves Nike RBI, Chicago White Sox Nike RBI, PLAY BALL Detroit Nike RBI, Durham Triple Play Nike RBI, Nike RBI Dominican Republic) are sending two teams to the tournament, while Macon Nike RBI from Macon, GA and Gary Nike RBI from Gary, IN will both attend the tournament representing their respective cites for the first time ever. Notably, the Houston Astros Nike RBI softball team, which has won four of the last five Softball Championships, will be making the team’s 15th consecutive Nike RBI World Series appearance (the longest streak in any division by any city), while the Chicago White Sox Nike RBI program (including the reigning Junior Baseball Division Champions) are representing the city in both the junior and senior divisions for the 17th time (the most of any city in tournament history).
The following is a complete list of leagues (and cities) represented in this year’s Nike RBI World Series:
Junior Baseball Teams (Ages 13-15)
Chicago White Sox Nike RBI (Chicago, IL)
Cleveland Guardians Nike RBI (Cleveland, OH)
Durham Triple Play Nike RBI (Durham, NC)
Dodgers Dreamteam Nike RBI (Los Angeles, CA)
Macon Nike RBI (Macon, GA)
New Orleans Youth Academy Nike RBI (New Orleans, LA)
Passaic Nike RBI (Passaic, NJ)
Nike RBI Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo, DR)
Senior Baseball Teams (Ages 16-18)
Atlanta Braves Nike RBI (Atlanta, GA)
Nike RBI Austin (Austin, TX)
Chicago White Sox Nike RBI (Chicago, IL)
PLAY BALL Detroit Nike RBI (Detroit, MI)
Durham Triple Play Nike RBI (Durham, NC)
Newark Nike RBI (Newark, NJ)
Arizona Diamondbacks Nike RBI (Phoenix, AZ)
Nike RBI Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo, DR)
Softball Teams (Ages 18 and under)
Puerto Rico Nike RBI Aguadilla (Aguadilla, PR)
Atlanta Braves Nike RBI (Atlanta, GA)
PLAY BALL Detroit Nike RBI (Detroit, MI)
Gary Nike RBI (Gary, IN)
Nobu Yamauchi Nike RBI (Hilo, HI)
Houston Astros Nike RBI (Houston, TX)
Roberto Clemente Nike RBI (Jersey City, NJ)
Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy Nike RBI (Washington, DC)
The first week, beginning on Monday, August 5th until Saturday, August 10th, will feature 16 baseball teams in both the Junior (ages 13-15) and Senior (ages 16-18) Divisions, with the Softball Division featuring eight teams (ages 18 and under) and operating Monday, August 12th until Saturday, August 17th. For the second consecutive year, Senior Division Championship Game will be played as a night game, which will be at the legendary Holman Stadium on Friday, August 9th. The Junior Division Championship will be played the following morning, also at Holman Stadium, Saturday, August 10th. All three divisional championship games will stream LIVE on MLB.com.
POOL-PLAY & PLAYOFF LIVE STREAMING – For the first time in tournament history, the majority of Nike RBI World Series games (including pool-play and playoff games) will stream LIVE on MLB.com and MLB.com/rbi. Beginning on Monday, August 5th, broadcasters from the “MLB Voices” play-by-play broadcast initiative (Reggie Singleton, Cam Thomas, Sedric Granger) will be joined by Ryan Sykora and Cavan Malayter from the Windy City Sports Network to call various games throughout the tournament.
- “MLB Voices” Play-by-Play Broadcast Initiative – In an effort to broaden the voices delivering baseball to all fans and level the playing field, Major League Baseball, in collaboration with the Black Play-by-Play Grant & Scholarship Fund has launched the MLB Voices Program. This initiative aims to develop and grow the next generation of play-by-play talent in baseball. Participants selected for this program will gain hands-on opportunities to call play-by-play for select MLB Develops events. Additionally, they will benefit from mentorship and guidance from experienced voices in the baseball broadcasting industry. Following the seven-month program, participants will exit with tangible copies of high-level television broadcast tape, enhancing their professional reels. They will also establish meaningful connections within MLB at a variety of events, including the Nike RBI World Series and All-Star Week. The group has already called games during February’s “Andre Dawson Classic,” June’s “Breakthrough Series Invitational” tournament, and last month’s “Hank Aaron Invitational” – all at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex.
The MVPs of each championship game will be rewarded with an MLB Develops MVP Award presented by Chevrolet, and each recipient will receive an expense-paid trip to the 2024 World Series presented by Capital One.
Additionally, all players will receive insight and important tips on mental health & wellness. Through the “MLB Together” platform, MLB will hold an activity to demonstrate the importance of de-stigmatizing conversations around mental health and giving insights on what the young athletes can do to remain positive and de-stress while also competing in the championship tournament. During the Softball Division tournament, MLB will announce the recipient of the Jennie Finch Empowerment Award presented by ARM & HAMMER, which will be awarded to the softball player who best embodies leadership characteristics. Finch, Olympic Gold Medalist and MLB Youth Softball Ambassador, will be on hand to make the special announcement. Lastly, the Jackie Robinson Training Complex will host a special PLAY BALL experience for local youth prior to the Senior Baseball Division Championship Game on Friday, August 9th.
The Nike RBI program has provided a path for many players to enter the college and professional game. MLB Clubs have drafted more than 200 RBI participants throughout the program’s 34-year history, and many others have been given the opportunity for higher education through baseball and softball scholarships. There have been more than 110 RBI alumni selected between the 2013-2024 MLB Drafts.
Nike RBI alumni who have appeared in the Major Leagues in 2024 include Taj Bradley (Tampa Bay Rays), Isaiah Campbell (Boston Red Sox), J.P. Crawford (Seattle Mariners), Hunter Greene (Cincinnati Reds), Mike Harris II (Atlanta Braves), Eloy Jimenez (Chicago White Sox), Ramon Laureano (Atlanta Braves), Anthony Rendon (Los Angeles Angels), Dominic Smith (Boston Red Sox) and Alek Thomas (Arizona Diamondbacks). Taj Bradley (Atlanta Braves Nike RBI – ‘16), Crawford (Venice Boys & Girls Club RBI – ‘09), Greene (Venice Boys & Girls Club RBI – ’13), Harris II (Atlanta Braves Nike RBI – ‘17), Jimenez (Dominican Republic RBI – ’12), and Smith (Venice Boys & Girls Club RBI – ‘09) have each played in the RBI World Series.
The Nike RBI program, which has served approximately 2 million young people since its inception, is administered by Major League Baseball and designed to give young people from underserved and diverse communities the opportunity to play baseball and softball, while also encouraging academic achievement and success and teaching the value of teamwork and other important life lessons. Nike RBI currently serves youth in over 150 programs in approximately 200 cities worldwide. MLB and its Clubs have designated more than $40 million worth of resources to the Nike RBI program, and all 30 Clubs support Nike RBI leagues. For more information about the Nike RBI World Series, please visit MLB.com/rbiworldseries.