Baseball & Athletics
The Amazin’ Mets Foundation is committed to supporting programs through both the Mets and within the community that directly impacts athletes. From investing in youth baseball and softball leagues and programs to support these athletes’ development, to funding a Wheelchair Softball tournament at Citi Field, the Foundation’s support removes financial barriers and enables athletes of all ages to pursue their chosen sport.
Since June 2021…
Over $2.2 million has been committed to support baseball and athletic programs.
Junior Mets
The Junior Mets Youth Baseball Program strives to introduce the game of baseball to the youth in the community at an early age, looks to create access to underserved groups and develop skills and fundamentals to help children foster a love for the game and create a pathway for the future of the sport.
The Program provides access to the sport of baseball through no-cost educational clinics, baseball curriculum lessons, and equipment and ticket donations for local youth athletes.
Introduction to the Game
Fun At Bat
The Amazin’ Mets Foundation and USA Baseball have partnered to bring young athletes a unique baseball & softball experience known as Fun At Bat. Through this program, kids learn every aspect of the game from fielding and throwing to batting, all while placing an emphasis on character development, functional movement, literacy, active play, and fun! The overarching goal of the program is to promote healthy and active lifestyles for children while teaching them the fundamentals of baseball and softball. The Foundation works with schools (grades K-5) all over the region to bring the Fun At Bat program to P.E. classes in order to grow the game and get more kids interested in the sport.
Since 2022, 300 local elementary schools have received equipment and Mets branded curriculum, impacting over 150,000 students.
Access to the Game
League Sponsorship
Low-income children are six times more likely to quit sports due to overwhelming costs of pay-to-play fees and equipment. To combat this, the Mets identify local little leagues to donate equipment and uniforms. The Amazin’ Mets Foundation will be supporting a local little league to ensure that baseball is accessible to all.
Sandlot Stars
The Amazin’ Mets Foundation partners with Pitch In For Baseball & Softball to purchase brand new equipment for youth baseball, softball, and t-ball teams. Through our Sandlot Stars program, the Foundation has provided brand new equipment to over 3,800 little leaguers in New York City, New Jersey, Long Island, Syracuse, Port St. Lucie, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico.
Field Renovations
Creating safe, high-quality spaces for young athletes is also our priority. The Foundation collaborated with Mets Ballpark Operations, LandTek, and the New York City Parks Department to identify and renovate local fields. The Foundation has committed over $2 million to upgrade three local ballfields with new irrigation, drainage, dugouts, and infields.
Coach Development Program
The Amazin’ Mets Foundation Coach Development Program is a key component to combatting one of the foundational issues that kids face: lack of access. In collaboration with the Center For Healing & Justice Through Sport (CHJS), this program provides an opportunity to connect local baseball and softball coaches with high quality learning materials and practice plans which better prepares them to face the complex, rewarding position of being a youth baseball/softball coach.
CHJS is a national nonprofit organization working to ensure that more young people and athletes have access to sport experiences that are healing-centered, inclusive, and work to address issues of systemic injustice.
Skills & Development of the Game
Baseball & Softball Clinics
Mets players, coaches and alumni participate in Junior Mets programming by leading clinics and tournaments at Citi Field and in our neighboring communities.
Junior Mets Baseball Camp
The Mets team up with USA Baseball for their Junior Mets Youth Baseball Camp. This week-long camp is held at Leavitts Park in Queens and concludes at Citi Field for a final day of practice and scrimmage games.
Since the Camp was introduced in 2023, youth athletes have had the opportunity to work on baseball skills with local coaches, and hear from New York Mets players, coaches, and alumni. All participants receive a special edition Junior Mets camp uniform and receive award plaques at the conclusion of the week.
The focus of the Junior Mets Baseball Camp is to provide baseball instruction to local underserved youth baseball and softball players at no cost.
