MLB DREAM Series Turns 80+ Teens Into Future Pro Players

When high school pitcher Rookie Shepard steps onto the field in Tempe, Arizona this weekend, he'll be learning directly from the same coaches and players he's watched on TV his entire life.

That's the magic of the MLB DREAM Series, which brings together more than 80 talented minority high school pitchers and catchers each Martin Luther King Jr. weekend for an experience many say changes everything. Since 2017, this program has proven that when you give young athletes access to big league wisdom, incredible things happen.

The results speak for themselves. Fifteen DREAM Series participants have been selected in the first round of the MLB Draft, including current stars like Hunter Greene and Michael Harris II. Top prospects like Braden Montgomery and Harry Ford got their start here too, learning from legends like former All-Star catcher Mike Scioscia and veteran coach Jerry Manuel.

"If you were to grab me in my teenage years and ask me how much access I had to a Major League player, it was zero," said Chris Young, former All-Star outfielder who's hosting MLB Network's coverage from the event. "This program gives these players access to big league knowledge and the things we had to learn the long way."

The program specifically focuses on diversifying baseball by targeting minority pitchers and catchers, positions where representation has historically been limited. For many participants, this isn't just skills training but a chance to be seen by scouts who might never have discovered them otherwise.

The Ripple Effect

What makes the DREAM Series truly special is how it's building on itself. Former participants now return as mentors, creating what Young calls "a full circle where this looks extremely achievable." When teenagers see someone who stood in their exact shoes just a few years ago now playing professionally, the dream stops feeling distant.

Angels outfielder Jo Adell, himself a DREAM Series alumnus, will return as a special guest this year. So will Nationals middle infielder Nasim Nuñez, who was named the 2023 All-Star Futures Game MVP. They're living proof the program works.

"When you mention 'DREAM Series,' that's exactly what it is: dream big," said Cliff Floyd, another former All-Star helping host this year's event. "I was blown away to see all this talent at a very young age, how mature they were and how grateful they were for the opportunity."

The commitment from MLB and the coaching staff ensures this isn't just a weekend photo opportunity. Players receive genuine instruction, mentoring, and connections that follow them throughout their careers. More than a dozen former big leaguers, including Marquis Grissom and LaTroy Hawkins, donate their time to make it happen.

As the ninth annual DREAM Series kicks off Friday, 80 more young athletes will get the chance to learn, grow, and see their future selves in the faces of those teaching them.