Local athletes compete for spot on D-backs RBI Team
Baseball players from local high schools compete to earn a spot on the Diamondbacks RBI team.
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Last summer five local baseball players had the opportunity of a lifetime to represent the Arizona Diamondbacks in the RBI League. This summer, the dream continues, as another group of talented local athletes hopes to earn their spot on the squad.
The RBI League is Major League Baseball's initiative to provide opportunities to youth players in underserved communities.
"A lot of people don't have the money to do these elite travel ball circuits," Dbacks RBI and Gila Ridge coach James Kuzniak said. "The name stands for 'Reviving Baseball and Inner cities.' It's just given a different group and a different population a chance. And that's really what's, what growing the game's all about."
Players from Gila Ridge, San Luis, Kofa and Yuma High Schools have come together to form the Yuma Dbacks, who will compete in an eight game season over the next three weeks. The best 16 players will be selected for the Dbacks RBI team.
"It's been fun," Gila Ridge junior Noah Heil said. "Getting the opportunity to play some, some ball in front of some people. We are trying to just show out and do our best."
The summer season kicked off with a showcase sponsored by the Dbacks, MLB and Fanatics where the team's new city connect jerseys were unveiled.
"It was a pretty cool experience," Gila Ridge junior Noah Caza said. "Alex Thomas was there. We got the big league uniforms. It was awesome."
"It was a really cool thing, not only for the community, but for the kids," Kuzniak said. "They were treated like big leaguers. [Former Dbacks] Chris Owings and Junior Spivey weere there as managers. These are opportunities these kids wouldn't necessarily have if it wasn't for RBI."
For the players who make the final cut, the journey continues to the RBI regionals and possibly the RBI World Series where they will be rocking the same threads as their big league heroes.
"We're really fortunate," Kuzniak said. "The Dbacks take care of everything. You're a member of the organization."
The RBI program offers players valuable exposure to college coaches and scouts, opening doors many never thought possible.
"Not only the training and the practices and the competition they're getting, but just the exposure of being on the team. They are posted on Facebook or the team Instagram. They are seen by college coaches and scouts. They're just getting a different set of eyes on them that they wouldn't normally get," Kuzniak shared.
The impact of the RBI program is growing and the community is taking notice.
"I can't tell you how many little kids say, 'Hey man, one day I want to play in the RBI team,'" Kuzniak said.
The final roster for the RBI team will be released after the conclusion of the eight game season.
