SEATTLE -- Tycean Martin is a 13-year-old from Seattle who has undergone four open-heart surgeries to deal with a congenital defect, but still finds a way to play elite level baseball for the Washington Select Warriors youth program.

Ty’morie Greene is a 14-year-old from Kent who had been homeless in Florida with his mom until moving to join his dad in Washington, where he found stability and a love for baseball that has him looking to go to college and pursue his dream of creating a foundation to help others.

Joy Wilde is a 12-year-old honor student from Tacoma with a 4.0 GPA who plays softball and has created a website to collect “stories for change” from female athletes who have faced racism to help others facing similar challenges.

These are the kind of stories the Mariners found when they created On BASE Hometown Nine this summer. That trio is part of a group of nine current eighth graders who were introduced Friday as the inaugural class of the program, which will cover the costs for all equipment, training and fees associated with travel and select baseball and softball teams as well as provide mentorship from Mariners players and staff to assist with academic and personal support.

The program was created after Mariners players talked about the lack of diversity in baseball and the need to promote the game among youths of color. The nine students selected will remain in the program through high school, and nine more incoming eighth graders will be added each year.

The inaugural class consists of Greene, Martin and Wilde, as well as 13-year-olds King Allah and Noah Broussard of Renton, Michelle Andrea Arimura and Darnell Carlisle of Seattle, Gabriel Lopez of Mercer Island and Kahealani Sharpe of Federal Way.

The players learned of their selection to the program via online calls with several Mariners this week, which led to some heartfelt conversations.

Mariners center fielder Kyle Lewis, who had to deal with a severe knee injury his first season in pro ball, found a kindred spirit in Allah, who didn’t start playing baseball until two years ago and said he’s had to work twice as hard as others to catch up.

“I love to hear about your hard work and dedication,” Lewis said. “That’s something I know a lot about, you know, fighting through adversity. So keep doing what you are doing and know that I’m watching. I’m really proud of you.”

Mariners pitcher Justin Dunn, who attended Boston College, found out that Broussard wants to become an engineer and start a program to offer support to kids like himself after his family of four lived in a one-bedroom apartment in the Bay Area before moving to Renton, where he’s flourished on Little League All-Star and Baseball Beyond Borders teams.

“Wanting to help people inspired me and carried me through,” Dunn told Broussard. “Me and my teammates will be here for you. We had no one to help us as we came up, so we wanted to make it better for you guys and give you someone to look up to. We’ve been in your shoes and we know what it takes. Anything you ever need from us, feel free to reach out and we’ll help you in any way we can.”

All nine of the students selected have their own stories. Arimura struggled with a reading disorder in elementary school, but says she found confidence playing for the Flame Fastpitch team and hopes now to pursue softball at the college level.

Carlisle was named the Most Improved Player this year for his Rainier District Little League team and has been volunteering at the West Seattle Food Bank, while Lopez is a pitcher and catcher in the Baseball Beyond Borders program whose family has been hit hard by economic issues caused by COVID-19.

Sharpe is a multisport athlete who excels in wrestling, rowing and softball and spoke volumes when talking about how she advocates against bullying in school or sports.

“When my family, friends and classmates are too scared to speak up, I make it a point to be the one that stands tall to speak for and beside them in the face of bullying until they have the strength and courage to stand tall on their own,” she said. “No one should be bullied because of their differences.”