MLB to Co-Host "PLAY BALL Weekend" at Three Locations with NPB Teams

Major League Baseball (MLB) will hold "PLAY BALL Weekend" on June 6th and 7th in collaboration with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, Yomiuri Giants, and Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. This event aims to provide children with a firsthand experience of the fun of baseball.

Since its Japanese debut in 2022, "PLAY BALL" has expanded its reach to children with little to no experience in baseball or softball. For the first time, this initiative will be co-hosted with three Japanese professional clubs, coinciding with the "PLAY BALL Weekend" in North America, where all 30 MLB teams conduct youth community outreach. This serves as a significant opportunity for the US and Japan to deepen ties and work together on youth development through sports.

At each venue, legendary guests including Takashi Saito, Koji Uehara, and Tsuyoshi Wada will be present. Participants will challenge themselves in basic baseball skills such as pitching, batting, and catching. The program also includes a talk corner for Q&A sessions and live demonstrations by the guests, allowing children to interact directly with the former pros.

### "PLAY BALL Weekend" Event Overview

**1. MLB x Yokohama DeNA BayStars (PLAY BALL Weekend | Yuugure B-PARK)** * Date: Saturday, June 6th (Following the completion of the 2:00 PM BayStars game) * Venue: Yokohama Stadium (Yokohama, Kanagawa) * Guest: Takashi Saito (Former L.A. Dodgers, Yokohama BayStars, etc.) * Target: Approx. 300 children (Preschool to 6th grade) who attended the game (First-come basis)

**2. MLB x Yomiuri Giants** * Date: Saturday, June 6th, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM * Venue: Yomiuri Giants Stadium Indoor Practice Facility (Kawasaki, Kanagawa) * Guest: Koji Uehara (Former Boston Red Sox, Yomiuri Giants, etc.) * Target: Approx. 50 beginners (1st to 4th grade)

**3. MLB x Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks** * Date: Sunday, June 7th (Following the completion of the 1:00 PM Hawks Minor League game) * Guest: Tsuyoshi Wada (Former Chicago Cubs, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, etc.) * Target: Approx. 50 beginners (1st to 4th grade)

### Registration Information Applications are being accepted for the following venues via the URLs below: * MLB x Yomiuri Giants: https://x.gd/BTOHL * MLB x Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks: https://x.gd/G8rXp Note: The Yokohama event is open to game attendees on a first-come, first-served basis and does not require separate registration.

**About "PLAY BALL"** PLAY BALL is MLB's premier youth engagement event held throughout the US and Canada. It is a global initiative encouraging youth participation in various activities through baseball and softball, unified by the message: "However You Play Ball, PLAY BALL!"