DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers hosted 24 youth baseball and softball players at Comerica Park on Saturday as part of the Major League Baseball Pitch Hit & Run Program, presented by MLB Network.

MLB Pitch Hit & Run (PHR) is a grassroots initiative in the United States and Canada offering boys and girls ages 7-14 an opportunity to showcase their baseball and softball skills. Participants play in three levels of competition including Locals (hosted by civic groups, recreational organizations and youth leagues), Team Championships (hosted in partnership with the in-market MLB club), and the National Finals during the World Series. The program is free to participate for kids 14 and under.

The Tigers welcomed 24 Michigan and Northeast Indiana Team Championship finalists at Comerica Park on Saturday morning. Participants were the top three finishers among four age groups who advanced from the Locals level of competition.

“We enjoyed an eventful day with the dozens of youth baseball and softball players that visited and competed at Comerica Park for this tremendous initiative,” said Ashley Robinson, Detroit Tigers manager of youth programs and player relations. “Growing and activating the game is incredibly important to our organization, and we were thrilled to be able to hold this event on the same field that the Detroit Tigers play on.”

Following the morning session, the youth players were invited back to Comerica Park for Detroit’s evening game against the Toronto Blue Jays. The participants were surprised with a scoreboard message in the third inning.