RaysUp the Future is Now & the Florida Bolts head to Barclay

Reflection on Tony Saladino – Tampa Baseball iconTampa Bay Rays Youth movement:Carson Williams – first MLB home run, strong defensive presence, potential long-term answer at shortstopIan Seymour – lefty starter showing promiseEverson Pereira – solid defense, working into outfield rotationBrian Van Belle – strong Durham performance, early success in MLB debutJunior Caminero – chasing 50+ home runs at age 21, comparisons to Evan Longoria’s early career statsChandler Simpson – speed threat, but struggling at the plateYandy Díaz & Brandon Lowe continue to mentor and produce  Trop update: new roof construction underway2026 - Rays building around Williams, Caminero, Seymour, Simpson, Curet, & others Jays' Bo Bichette’s free agency may reshape shortstop market; Rays could leverage Ha-Seong Kim’s contract Little League World Series ExperienceMark’s trip to Williamsport with his brother Chris:4 games in a single day (U.S. and international brackets) Emotional highs and lows: kids’ joy in victory, heartbreak in defeat Memorable sportsmanship amongst teams Chinese Taipei & Korea producing strong talent; ties to Australian Baseball LeagueWould the LLWS ever move overseasBrooke Mrozek, Team Manager of the Florida Bolts Girls Baseball TeamAll-girls baseball organization serving ages 7–18 across Florida Teams compete in national tournaments, including Sparks, Nevada where:12U team won 1st place (minor division) 16U team finished 2nd place (minor division)Brooke’s daughter served as a coach for the 12U team10 collegiate women’s teams (e.g., Cal Poly) Launch of the (WPBL) in 2026 Bolts Player DevelopmentContinue with local rec/travel teams and unite for monthly practicesPractices emphasize both skill-building and fun (e.g., slip-and-slide sliding drills) Being a mentor beyond parents—“I believe in you. You belong.”Funding ChallengesFlorida Bolts is a nonprofit, relying on donations, fundraisers, & sponsorshipsPast support included the Tampa Bay Rays, funding has decreased in recent yearsCurrent fundraiser: 50/50 raffle Upcoming Opportunity: The Barclay Cup in AustraliaBolts are the first international team invited to this prestigious tournament happening next monthHistoric opportunity to bridge U.S. and Australian girls’ baseball Sponsorships and donations needed to cover travel, lodging, tournament fees, and uniformsSupport the Florida BoltsFacebook & Instagram: Florida Bolts Baseball - https://www.facebook.com/floridabolts/Email: [email protected]/Sponsorships: via Venmo, Cash App, or PayPal (details on Facebook page)50/50 raffle currently activeClosing Message from Brooke -  Goal is to create opportunities and support girls in baseballSponsorships, donations, and even sharing posts online make a difference“Baseball isn’t just for boys anymore—girls can do this.”You can find Mat at @matgermain.bsky.social or reach Mark at  [email protected] BaseballBiz on Deck, at iHeart Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, and at www.baseballbizOnDeck.com Special Thanks to Scott Holmes for the music Stomps & Claps