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PROGRAMS

Arizona Diamondbacks Nike Jr. RBI League (NJRL)

Developing youth student-athletes and promoting community across Arizona.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NIKE JR. RBI BALSZ SCHOOL DISTRICT
NJRL game day

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

From forty K–2 athletes to a multi-age league

The Balsz Home2First Baseball League launched in January 2025, the first baseball in the Balsz School District in nearly a decade, and has already grown into an official Arizona Diamondbacks / Nike Jr. RBI league with classroom sessions, MLB guest speakers, and its own select team, the Desert Warriors.

2026 SEASON

A massive professional expansion

  • Officially joined the Arizona Diamondbacks / Nike Jr. RBI league, and every player received a new D-backs uniform and glove
  • Doubled our impact by adding brand-new 3rd–5th grade divisions
  • Coaching staff fully led by the Diamondbacks organization
  • MLB guest speakers: Scott Hairston, Shawn Estes, and Hayden Seig, plus a special day with James McCann at Chase Field
  • Celebratory closing ceremonies highlighted by a special appearance from Arizona Diamondbacks mascot Baxter, alongside individual recognition honors that included the season MVP award presented to Joan "Dyson" Mendoza

2025 SEASON

The landmark debut

  • Opening Day, March 8, 2025: "PLAY BALL!" echoed at Promise Field for the first time in nearly a decade
  • Launched with forty K–2 student-athletes across four teams, ages 5–8
  • Weekly practices, an 8-game schedule, and classroom sessions reading I Am Jackie Robinson and Yogi
  • Peralta Custom Gloves signed on as the league's official glove sponsor
  • Inaugural league MVP: Ismael "Ish" Beltran, awarded a custom Peralta glove

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

Learning goes beyond the diamond

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On-Field Practices

Learn the game with Arizona Diamondbacks and Nike Jr. RBI coaches. We focus on fundamentals and teamwork, helping new athletes build confidence through every play.

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Guest Speakers

Get inspired by professionals like Scott Hairston, Shawn Estes, Hayden Seig, and Chris Snow. They share lessons on resilience, mentorship, and how to be a great teammate.

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Player Contracts

Athletes sign a pledge to lead with character, respect their team, and always give their best effort. It's about being an all-star player and human, with academic check-ins to keep grades on track.

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Classroom Sessions

Education comes first with our reading program featuring legends like Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, and Yogi Berra. These readings reinforce the intangibles of the game: hard work, teamwork, and resilience.

Every moment captured at NJRL

Every Moment, Captured.

We believe your memories shouldn't have a price tag. Visit our SmugMug portal to browse and download high-resolution game photos for free.

OPEN FREE PHOTO PORTAL

CLASSROOM SESSIONS

Some of our biggest wins happen off the diamond

Before they ever round the bases, our players turn the pages. Our reading program pairs the game with the stories of legends like Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, and Yogi Berra. Those stories reinforce the same intangibles that win ballgames: focus, patience, and teamwork.

From quiet reading sessions to visits from MLB guest speakers, these are the moments off the field that shape our players just as much as anything between the lines, and proof that learning goes beyond the diamond.

Players reading a book together during an NJRL classroom session
Seig speaking with NJRL players as a guest speaker
Hairston speaking with NJRL players as a guest speaker
Joan during an NJRL classroom session

Help us double our impact again next season.

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