What is Pitch Hit & Run?
Major League Baseball® Pitch, Hit & Run™ (PHR™) is a free event that creates a safe and fun environment for kids to stay active and learn or continue to play baseball and softball in their local communities. Participation gives the athletes a chance to compete and earn a spot in a Team Championship or National Finals.
The Pitch Hit & Run competition is for boys and girls 7 to 14 years old, and consists of a series of movements that are important in baseball and softball. Athletes are tested, and their measurements are recorded. Based on their scores, they may advance from a local event to a Team Championship and then to the National Finals, which is held during the 2023 MLB® World Series.
Who can participate in the competition, and what are the divisions?
Baseball Division:
- 7-8 Division
- 9-10 Division
- 11-12 Division
- 13-14 Division
Softball Division:
- 7-8 Division
- 9-10 Division
- 11-12 Division
- 13-14 Division
What is an automatic qualifier?
This year we have added automatic qualifiers, where the winners at the local level will AUTOMATICALLY advance to a Team Championship.
Below are some of the automatic qualifiers for 2023:
- Any local operator who runs an event with 175 or more pre-registered participants
How and when will I know if I advance?
We have to allow all local events to conclude before we are able to determine the winners. Since all the local events are required to conclude by Aug. 1, we will let winners know by Aug. 8 if they advance. We will have Team Championships throughout the month of October and will let all winners know if they advance to the National Finals, one week after the final scheduled event (TBD).
RCX Sports will reach out to the winner through the registration information provided when registering for the event.
When and where are the Team Championships taking place?
The Team Championships will take place in the months of August, September and October. The Team Championships feed into the National Finals, held at the MLB World Series. The Team Championships are typically held at Major League Baseball stadiums. The full schedule will be released and posted on the PHR website as soon as possible!
What happens if you win a Team Championship?
If you win a PHR Team Championship, you will then advance to the PHR National Finals, which is held during the MLB World Series. PHR National Finals qualifiers receive an all-expenses-paid trip for the participant and one guardian.
What is the date of birth deadline for age groups?
Nov. 15, 2023.
What type of bats are allowed?
Please see the handbook for specific bat restrictions.
What are essential things I need to bring to a Pitch Hit and Run event?
Non-metal spikes, bat, glove.
*How will it be decided what Team Championship winners will participate in? *
Team Championship vent assignments for athletes will be determined by the closet geographical location from their local event.
When do Team Championships begin for Pitch, Hit & Run?
August-October.
How does a participant advance to the next round?
If the event is not an automatic qualifier, each local event host will submit their winners at the end of their event. The winners go into a larger pool within their region, where the best performers are selected to advance to one of the PHR Team Championships. The winner will be directed to a PHR Team Championship location, which will be based on proximity to their home address, and the region in which they live.
Then, the winners from each PHR Team Championship will again be put in a pool of other winners within their region, and those best performers will advance to the PHR National Finals, which takes place during the MLB World Series.
How many athletes advance?
Once your local competition is completed, the winners from your event will go into a pool of winners from other local events in your region. The top three baseball and softball players in each age division will advance to the PHR Team Championships in their region.
This remains true for the PHR Team Championship winners as well the winners are put into a pool with the winners of all the other PHR Team Championships, and the top three from each sport and each age division will advance to the National Finals and earn an all-expenses-paid trip to the MLB World Series.
Any individual who qualifies from a PHR Local Event run by a MLB or MLB® club automatically qualifies for their region’s PHR Team Championship.