Baseball Beyond Borders

Yesterday at the Mariners Training Center in Columbia City, the future of baseball was on full display. The MLB ID Tour returned to Seattle for a second year, and the talent level proved exactly why this region is a priority for Major League Baseball.

This "pro-style" workout is about identifying the "gems" in our own backyard. Kindu Jones, MLB’s Senior Coordinator of Baseball Development, highlighted just how high the stakes are—pointing to local standouts Kobe Reese and Cameron Dietrich as the perfect examples. Both players were discovered at this same tour stop last year and are now highly touted prospects in the class of 2028.

The mission is clear: remove the barriers. While many elite camps can cost families upwards of $2,500, Major League Baseball, the Seattle Mariners, and Baseball Beyond Borders teamed up to provide this professional evaluation for free. Bookie Gates and the BBB team have spent years advocating for this level of exposure for Pacific Northwest athletes, and yesterday showed that the investment is paying off.

From high-speed analytics to mentorship from MLB staff, these athletes got a true taste of the big leagues. We are so excited to share the stories of players like Januel Ozuna, Johnathan Parker, and Kealon Gates, who left it all on the field yesterday.

📸 Curated by Erik Kalligraphy.

The full story is coming your way soon. Don't miss the behind-the-scenes look at the next generation of PNW greats on Back2Besa with Besa Gordon on FOX 13 Seattle.