The mission of the Youth Programs Department of Major League Baseball is to build a sustainable youth baseball and softball model that fulfills the needs and desires of young people who want to play our game. Our domestic partnerships with key stakeholders like USA Baseball, USA Softball and Boys & Girls Clubs of America enhance our ability to reach young people within local communities and around the United States. As such, we will continue to look toward cultivating interest by developing innovative programming that speaks to the growing and diverse demands of today's youth.

Existing programs that drive this mission include the PLAY BALL initiative, the Major League Baseball Youth Academy network, Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI), Pitch, Hit & Run, Jr. Home Run Derby, the Breakthrough Series, the Dream Series and the Elite Development Invitational (just to name a few).