2025 HIGHLIGHTS
INVESTING IN OUR PASTIME’S FUTURE® Founded in 1985, the USA Baseball Foundation is the philanthropic arm of USA Baseball and dedicated to the development of baseball across the United States. As a critical supporter of the USA Baseball and other nonprofit organizations, we make contributions to initiatives and programs that serve the long-term growth of our game at all levels. The USA Baseball Foundation’s mission is to Break Barriers, Amplify the Game and Ignite a Passion for present and future generations of baseball fans in the United States by investing in Our Pastime’s Future®. Your generosity allows us to:
BREAK BARRIERS Dedicated to making baseball accessible and inclusive, with a primary focus on empowering women to play the game
AMPLIFY THE GAME Committed to creating opportunities for children to discover and fall in love with the game
I G N I T E A PAS S I O N Committed to growing the game and ensuring every individual who encounters baseball becomes a fan for life Join us today as we lead the growth of Our Pastime’s Future®.
D O N AT E N OW
Valued USA Baseball Supporters, On behalf of everyone at USA Baseball, we want to express our gratitude for your continued support towards our mission of Leading the Growth of Our Pastime’s Future. Your belief in what we do fuels our efforts to grow the game, inspire young athletes, and represent our nation with pride. Together, we’ve made 2025 a year to remember both on and off the field. Our national teams excelled on the world stage, bringing home three gold medals, including two world championships. The 12U National Team earned a historic three-peat at the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup. The 18U National Team reclaimed its place atop the world, defeating host Japan 2–0 in front of a sold-out crowd to capture its 11th all-time world title. And in its return to international play, the 15U National Team went undefeated to secure gold and qualify for next year’s WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup. Our impact extended well beyond the field. At the WBSC Congress in Thailand, USA Baseball was named the WBSC eSports Federation of the Year, recognizing our leadership in advancing eBaseball in the U.S. The 18U National Team earned global recognition as Rick Eckstein was named the WBSC Baseball Coach of the Year, and Coleman Borthwick was honored as the WBSC Baseball Player of the Year. Both recognitions are remarkable achievements, and we hope you join us in celebrating them as we are incredibly proud to have them represent the stars and stripes. As USA Baseball is recognized on the world stage, we are thrilled to share with you that the game continues to grow across the United States thanks to the outstanding programs you help support. Baseball participation in the U.S. climbed to 17.3 million players in 2025, the highest total recorded since the SFIA began tracking data in 2008, thanks in large part to the success of our Fun At Bat program. The program now reaches over 9,300 schools and 4.37 million students nationwide, including introducing more than 1,000 new schools this year alone. Building on that success, we’ve taken on the responsibility of launching Baseball5 in the United States, introducing this fast-paced, low-barrier version of the game to 291 schools across 29 states and Washington, D.C., reaching more than 780,000 students. The return of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) will kickstart what will be another milestone year for USA Baseball in 2026. With Michael Hill as General Manager, Mark DeRosa returning as Manager, and early commitments from Aaron Judge, Paul Skenes, Bobby Witt Jr., and Cal Raleigh to represent Team USA, we are excited to cheer for the red, white, and blue with you in March. But the WBC isn’t the only premier event happening on our home soil in 2026: our Women’s National Team will compete at the historic home of the Rockford Peaches in the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Group Stage in Rockford, Illinois. Having two premier international events in the United States next year will jumpstart our preparation for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. We are excited to work hard to showcase to the entire globe what baseball in the United States is when the eyes of the world are upon us. As we close the year, we hope you’ll consider supporting the USA Baseball Foundation’s Our Pastime’s Future Fund, which fuels the programs and initiatives that make our on-field and off-field successes possible. Your generosity helps us grow the game, expand access, and inspire the next generation of players and fans. Again, thank you for being part of our journey and for continuing to share our love and belief in baseball. Together, we are leading the growth of our pastime’s future, and we cannot wait for more unforgettable moments in 2026. Happy New Year!
Paul V. Seiler Executive Director/CEO USA Baseball
I G N I T E A PAS S I O N
USA Baseball captures three gold medals in 2025, as its national teams claimed all three gold medals available in international competition, underscoring the organization’s continued excellence on the world stage. The 12U National Team earned gold at the VIII WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup, the 15U National Team secured the top spot at the WBSC U-15 Pan American Championship, and the 18U National Team captured gold at the XXXII WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup. That success was further highlighted by individual honors, as 18U National Team member Coleman Borthwick received both the Richard W. “Dick” Case Award and International Performance of the Year, while Rick Eckstein was named the Rod Dedeaux Coach of the Year for his leadership with the 18U National Team and the Women’s National Team Development Program.
BREAK BARRIERS
Forty women from across the United States participate in the 2025 Women’s National Team Development Program, gathering in Cary, North Carolina, in October for a cornerstone initiative designed to prepare and empower the next generation of elite women in baseball. Through high-level development sessions, competition, and mentorship, the program serves as a critical pathway to both the Women’s National Team and future professional opportunities. The impact of USA Baseball’s commitment to women’s baseball was on full display during the inaugural Women’s Professional Baseball League Draft, where 14 Women’s National Team alumni were selected across the six-round draft. The historic night was highlighted by nine-time alum Kelsie Whitmore, who became the league’s first-ever No. 1 overall pick by San Francisco. With five players selected among the top 10 and alumni chosen in every round, the program reinforced its standing as the premier development pathway for women in baseball.
AMPLIFY THE GAME
Baseball participation in the United States reaches record levels in 2025, with 17.3 million players nationwide, the highest total ever recorded by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. That growth is reinforced at the high school level, where baseball remains one of the most popular boys sports in the country, ranking third in total programs and fifth overall in participation. Together, these indicators point to a healthy and expanding pipeline fueled by increased access, early exposure, and fun-first development opportunities. USA Baseball’s grassroots initiatives continue to play a central role in that momentum. Fun At Bat expanded to more than 9,300 schools and reached over 4.37 million students nationwide in 2025, while Baseball5 launched its first year in U.S. middle schools, reaching more than 80,000 students across 29 states and Washington, D.C. By introducing inclusive, low-barrier versions of the game at earlier ages, USA Baseball is creating new entry points and helping ensure the long-term growth of baseball for the next generation.
SUPPORTING NATIONAL TEAM ATHLETES ON THE WORLD STAGE
YOUR CONTRIBUTION ENHANCES THE SUPPORT OF THE FOLLOWING:
ELITE COACHING
NUTRITION
DOMESTIC & INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS
MODERN EQUIPMENT & FACILITIES
D O N AT E N OW
As USA Baseball continues to grow in the fundraising landscape, endowments and programmatic fundraising will be crucial towards the financial stability of USA Baseball. With this in mind, USA Baseball has launched the PLAY IT FORWARD Initiative. This initiative will ensure financial stability for each of our national team’s and will be used for athletes and operational initiatives. Gifts made to this program can be multi-year pledges (up to five years) and are fully charitable. GOLD LEVEL
$10,000
SILVER LEVEL
$5,000
BRONZE LEVEL
$2,500
As USA Baseball continues to grow in the fundraising landscape, programmatic fundraising will be crucial towards the financial stability of USA Baseball. With this in mind, USA Baseball has launched the Coaches Circle. This initiative will ensure financial stability for each of our national teams and will be used for athletes and operational initiatives. Gifts made to this program can be multi-year pledges (up to five years) and are fully charitable. By making commitments starting at $10,000, donors will have the opportunity to support USA Baseball initiatives and continue to grow the game throughout the United States. GOLD LEVEL
$50,000
SILVER LEVEL
$25,000
BRONZE LEVEL
$10,000
R E A DY TO M A K E YO U R I M PAC T ? E M A I L D R A K E SAC E N T I drakesacenti@usabaseball.com