USA Baseball Announces Expansion of Breakthrough Series

USA Baseball and Major League Baseball on Monday announced plans to expand the annual Breakthrough Series to five regional locations in 2016.

The Breakthrough Series will kick off at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe, Ariz., from January 16-18, before making stops in Cincinnati, Houston, Bradenton, Fla., and Cary, N.C., later in the summer. In addition to expanding the event’s geographic reach, the Breakthrough Series will also include women’s softball for the first time.

The Breakthrough Series provides an opportunity for players from urban and underserved communities to showcase their talents in front of professional and collegiate evaluators. USA Baseball expects more than 300 athletes, many of whom will be African-American, to attend the Breakthrough Series.

Tony Reagins, MLB senior vice president of youth programs, is excited about the growth of the Breakthrough Series.

“Providing opportunities for young people to excel and advance within our sport is a central priority for Major League Baseball,” Reagins said in a statement. “We are happy not only to expand the amount of locations for this year’s event, but also to include women’s softball for the first time ever. Together with USA Baseball and a host of former Major Leaguers, we are looking forward to giving these ballplayers the chance to demonstrate their talents and to be recognized for the next levels of our game.”

Prospects at the Breakthrough Series participate at no cost, and based on their skills, are recommended by Major League Baseball, USA Baseball, MLB Urban Youth Academies, the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program, the MLB Scouting Bureau and Major League teams.

Coaches for the Tempe event include Lou Collier, Eric Davis, Bob Didier, Tom “Flash” Gordon, Marquis Grissom, Jerry Manuel, Darrell Miller, Darren Oliver, Rob Picciolo, Reggie Waller and Dmitri Young.

In addition to on-field instruction, players will also receive daily presentations from former Major Leaguers, scouts, college administrators, umpires and other industry professionals. These presentations will offer players information about the college recruiting process as well as alternate careers in the baseball industry.’

Approximately 130 Breakthrough Series alumni have gone on to be selected in the MLB Draft, including 30 in 2015. Alumni have also gone on to play collegiate baseball in power conferences—including the Pac 12, SEC, ACC and the Big 10.