Officially Chartered in Ireland By THESE ORGANIZATIONS:
The Team Ireland Baseball program offers players the chance to represent their Irish heritage through baseball. The goals of the Team Ireland Baseball program are:
To identify, evaluate, and develop players who are, or qualify to become, citizens of Ireland.
To provide opportunities for players of Irish heritage to represent their heritage through baseball.
To provide a positive baseball experience for all players with an emphasis on teaching, respect, and player development.
We work with top coaches to deliver a best-in-class program focused on teaching the game, helping players reach their full potential, and giving them meaningful opportunities to strengthen their connection to Ireland and their Irish heritage.
PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a travel baseball program. Players remain with their current travel or summer baseball teams and join Team Ireland for tournaments and events as their schedules allow. We make it a point to recognize each player’s school and travel baseball program.
If your child is between the ages of 8 and 18, click here to request an invitation to the Team Ireland Baseball program.
Program Sponsors
More Info: Team Ireland Baseball
Mission and Purpose
The Team Ireland Baseball program offers players the chance to represent their Irish heritage through baseball. The goals of the Team Ireland Baseball program are:
- To identify, evaluate, and develop players who are, or qualify to become, citizens of Ireland.
- To provide opportunities for all players of Irish heritage to represent their heritage through baseball.
- To provide a positive baseball experience for all players, regardless of their family’s ancestry, with an emphasis on teaching, respect, and player development.
Player Eligibility
The Team Ireland Baseball program is open to players of Irish heritage, including Irish citizens and players with documented Irish heritage. Eligible players range in age from 8–18, in accordance with Babe Ruth and Cal Ripken age divisions.
Player Identification & Recruitment
The Team Ireland Baseball program works with partner and affiliate organizations to identify and recruit players with a strong emphasis on finding players who want to represent their heritage on an international stage, as part of the long-term growth and success of Irish Baseball.
Program Structure
Team Ireland Baseball forms teams to compete at local, regional, and national tournaments and games. Most event rosters are filled through a combination of open registration to interested players and invitations to players that have been at a previous Team Ireland Baseball tournament.
Because the program is structured as a supplement to a player’s existing baseball commitments, our rosters will vary significantly between events — we don’t expect players to be available for every tournament or game.
The Team Ireland Baseball program also includes optional virtual and in-person events that provide opportunities for players and their families to deepen their connection to Ireland and Irish culture. These events include Irish language and history lectures and classes.
Team Ireland Baseball is formally affiliated with Emerald Diamond International’s youth baseball development programs across Ireland and Northern Ireland. Through these programs, EDI introduces thousands of boys and girls to baseball each year and supports the continued growth of the sport throughout Irish communities worldwide.
Player Interest & Next Steps
Fill out our Player Interest Form. You’ll receive updates on upcoming events.
FAQ: Team Ireland Baseball
What is Team Ireland Baseball?
The Team Ireland Baseball program is an opportunity for players to represent their Irish heritage on the baseball diamond. We organize tournaments and teams to compete throughout the USA. The program is the official national charter holder for Ireland in Babe Ruth, Cal Ripken, and NABF Baseball, and receives support from the Irish American Baseball Society and the Government of Ireland.
Who Runs Team Ireland Baseball?
Team Ireland Baseball is run by Emerald Diamond International (EDI). EDI is a US-based nonprofit organization that has been supporting and developing youth baseball programs in Ireland for over twenty years. The Team Ireland Baseball program receives support from the Irish American Baseball Society, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and the Government of Ireland.
Where is Team Ireland located?
The Team Ireland Baseball program is based in the United States. We play tournaments and showcase games across the United States. Our players come from over 30 US states, Canada, Ireland, England, and Australia.
Is Team Ireland Baseball a travel program?
Team Ireland Baseball is not a travel baseball program. Players remain with their current travel or summer baseball teams and join Team Ireland for tournaments and events as their schedules allow. We organize tournaments and games throughout the year, across the USA, and it is our hope to provide an opportunity to as many players as possible.
Players should not leave their current travel and school baseball obligations to play with Team Ireland Baseball.
How much does the program cost?
There is no cost to join the program. We assemble teams for select tournaments across the United States throughout the year. The typical cost of a tournament will vary but we aim to keep the cost to $300 or less for the tournament deposit, fees, and uniforms.
What is the level of play?
Team Ireland is a competitive baseball environment. We expect tournament team players to be experienced in a competitive baseball environment. Players who are not able to compete at this level are encouraged to participate in Team Ireland clinics or games to help them improve their skills.
How Are tournament teams selected?
For each tournament, we combine player invitations with open registration to field a competitive team while giving as many players as possible the opportunity to compete and proudly represent their Irish heritage on the baseball diamond.
After each tournament, our coaches share their evaluations of player abilities, which we use to help decide who gets invited to future tournaments.
How is playing time handled?
Although we cannot promise a specific amount of playing time in a specific game or tournament, we work to find opportunities for all players to have opportunities to play.
Is my son eligible to participate?
There is no minimum heritage requirement. All players are encouraged to sign up for the program and participate when their schedule allows.
What happens after I sign up?
After you sign up, you’ll begin receiving emails with information about upcoming tournaments, games, events, and virtual presentations from college coaches and Irish culture experts. We encourage families to keep an eye on our emails for upcoming opportunities to play for Team Ireland Baseball.