CALLING ALL IRISH BASEBALL PLAYERS

Baseball Ireland Launches a Global Search for Players: 12U, 15U, 18U, 23U and Senior National Teams

From Dublin to Boston, Belfast to San Diego, Cork to Toronto: if you have Irish blood and a glove, your country wants to hear from you.

Baseball Ireland, the only recognized National Governing Body for baseball on the island of Ireland, today launched a global player search. It covers every age grade, 12 and Under (12U), 15U, 18U, 23U and Senior, and it is open to players at home in Ireland and to the global Irish diaspora.

We want to find every eligible player in the world, wherever they live, who are interested in representing the nation in the coming years. That means players who already hold Irish citizenship and players who potentially can qualify for Irish citizenship.

The immediate goal: build a solid 18U squad Ireland ready for the 2027 WBSC U18 European Baseball Championship Qualifiers next summer.

It doesn’t stop there. Baseball Ireland also intends to compete in the 2028 European Baseball Championship Qualifiers at senior level and is gauging interest in entering U15 and U23 teams for the 2028 tournaments. A pathway is being built at every age, from a 12-year-old’s first green jersey to the Senior’s National Team.

A call to the diaspora

Around 70 million people worldwide claim Irish heritage, and many of them grew up playing ball on the sandlots, high school diamonds and college fields of America, Canada, Australia and beyond. Many have a grandparent from Mayo, a parent from Derry, or a box of old family papers that could mean an Irish passport.

This is your chance to represent your Irish heritage on the international stage: to pull on the green, stand for Amhrán na bhFiann, and compete for Ireland in WBSC-sanctioned European Championship competition.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Irish-Americans, Irish-Canadians, or any qualified players with Irish ancestry from across Ireland and the world to play baseball on Irish national teams at all age grades and represent their Irish heritage and their families and help put Baseball Ireland on the map.” Ryan Flynn, CEO, Baseball Ireland

A call to players at home

This search starts at home. If you play club baseball anywhere on the island of Ireland, at any age, we want you in the system to register your intent to play for the country in various competitions, including Pony and Babe Ruth championships in Europe, America and elsewhere. Domestic players are the foundation of every Irish team, and this search is as much about finding and developing talent in Ireland as it is about reaching the diaspora.

Who is eligible?

To represent Ireland in European Championship competition, players must hold Irish citizenship and an Irish passport or be able to obtain them.

You may already be an Irish citizen, or be entitled to become one, if:

• You were born on the island of Ireland, or a parent was born on the island of Ireland. In most cases you are already an Irish citizen.
• A grandparent was born on the island of Ireland. You may be eligible for citizenship by registering on the Foreign Births Register.
• A parent was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth (even if they weren’t born in Ireland). You may also be eligible through the Foreign Births Register.

Official information on citizenship for people born abroad, from the Department of Foreign Affairs: 👉 https://www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/citizenship/born-abroad/registering-a-foreign-birth/

Start now. Citizenship applications can take many months to process, so if you think you may qualify, don’t wait. Begin gathering documents today, and tell us where you are in the process when you fill out the questionnaire.

How to answer the call

Step 1: Fill out the Baseball Ireland Player Questionnaire. It takes only a few minutes and tells us about your Irish heritage, your citizenship status and your baseball level.

👉 https://forms.gle/kxDVMNRKLKNgj6qX7

Parents please complete the questionnaire on behalf of younger players.

Step 2: Spread the word. Coaches, parents, teammates, grandparents, Irish clubs, GAA clubs and parishes: forward this to anyone who might qualify. The best Irish player out there may not know he’s eligible yet.

Coaches: we need your help

High school, travel, club and college coaches: please share this with your players and their families. The search covers all ages from 12U to Senior team. Our most urgent need is 18U players available for summer 2027, and we are also building interest lists for U15 and U23 teams for 2028.

The time is now

Ireland has always sent its sons and daughters around the world. Now we’re asking some of them to come home and play for her.

Fill out the questionnaire today.

Baseball Ireland is the recognised National Governing Body for baseball on the island of Ireland.

Contact us today: nationalteam@baseballireland.com