Major League Baseball Brings Nike RBI Western Regionals To The Heart Of Portland
Portland, OR – July 2026 – Major League Baseball’s premier youth development initiative is heading to the Rose City. Portland has been selected to host the 2026 Nike RBI Western Regionals from July 16–19, 2026. Moving to Oregon after previously being held in Seattle, the prestigious regional tournament is hosted in partnership with local Portland nonprofit Friends of Baseball & Softball and supported by the Seattle Mariners as the tournament's MLB-affiliated club. The regional event is also proudly sponsored by Gatorade, Moda Health, DeJarnett Sales, and Williams & Russell CDC.
The Western Regional will bring more than 400 elite youth athletes from RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) programs spanning seven states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington. Teams across three divisions will compete in a high-stakes, multi-day tournament for the ultimate prize: a spot in the MLB Nike RBI World Series, held this August at the historic Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Florida.
At the tournament, Portland’s youth RBI teams will take the field in modernized replica jerseys inspired by the 1946 Portland Rosebuds, a Negro Leagues-era team that shaped Oregon’s baseball history. In partnership with the Seattle Mariners, who are also outfitting the Seattle youth RBI teams with jerseys representing the Steelheads, this initiative connects today's young athletes with the trailblazers who played through segregation. This special collaboration proudly represents Portland by bringing the story of the Rosebuds back to life while celebrating the legacy of those who paved the way.
Event Details:
Dates: July 16-19, 2026
Location(s): Portland Metro Area
Primary Host Site: Adrienne C. Nelson High School
Additional Competition Sites: Grant High School, McDaniel High School, Milwaukie High School
Divisions of Play: Junior & Senior Baseball Divisions, Softball Division
*A complete tournament game schedule and bracket updates can be found on the Friends of Baseball and Softball website.
Ticket Information:
This tournament is free and open to the public. Fans are encouraged to witness the action firsthand, pack the stands, and cheer on these talented athletes as they look to punch their ticket to the World Series.
About Nike RBI:
The Nike RBI program, which has served approximately 2 million young people since its inception, is administered by Major League Baseball and designed to give young people from underserved and diverse communities the opportunity to play baseball and softball, while also encouraging academic achievement and success and teaching the value of teamwork and other important life lessons. Nike RBI currently serves youth in over 150 programs in approximately 200 cities worldwide. MLB and its Clubs have designated more than $40 million worth of resources to the Nike RBI program, and all 30 Clubs support Nike RBI leagues. For more information about the Nike RBI World Series, please visit MLB.com/rbiworldseries.
About Friends of Baseball & Softball:
Celebrating more than 20 years of community impact, Friends of Baseball & Softball is a Portland-based nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing equitable access to sports-based youth development, leadership, and mentorship. By utilizing baseball and softball as entry points, the organization helps young people build confidence, cultivate lifelong relationships, and achieve their full potential. Through year-round out-of-school enrichment, workforce development, and community-centric programs, Friends of Baseball & Softball serves more than 2,000 youth annually, with a dedicated focus on youth of color and historically underserved communities facing barriers to participation. Learn more at friendsofbaseball.org.