Native American youth baseball players from across the Southwest and beyond are gathering at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick this weekend for the Na7ive Na7ions 16U National Baseball Tournament, an event that blends elite athletic competition with Indigenous culture, community, and youth development.
The four-day tournament features 11 teams representing Tribal and Indigenous communities competing for a national championship and a berth in the prestigious Babe Ruth World Series.
Hosted at the same complex used by Major League Baseball teams during Spring Training, the tournament aims to elevate the visibility of Indigenous athletes while bringing together families, Tribal leaders, Native-owned businesses, artists, and community organizations.
“Na7ive Na7ions was created to ensure Native youth have access to the same opportunities as any other athlete while celebrating who they are and where they come from,” said DJ Carrasco, founder and executive director of Na7ive Na7ions. “This event is about much more than baseball. It is about representation, visibility, culture, and creating opportunities that many Native youth have not had access to before.”
Carrasco, a former Major League Baseball pitcher, founded the organization after spending more than 15 years in professional baseball. Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 26th round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft, he played professionally from 1997 through 2012, including stints with the Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, Arizona Diamondbacks, and New York Mets.
Today, he has redirected that experience toward creating opportunities for Indigenous youth through sports.
“Growing up, I rarely saw Native players represented in professional baseball,” Carrasco said. “Native Nations is about changing that narrative. We want Native youth to know they belong in this game, can compete at the highest levels, and never have to leave their culture behind to pursue their dreams.”
The tournament extends beyond the baseball diamond by intentionally incorporating Native culture and community into the event. Throughout the weekend, attendees can support Native-owned vendors, artists, food businesses, jewelers, and entrepreneurs, creating an atmosphere that reflects the diverse communities represented by participating teams.
Na7ive Na7ions also emphasizes youth wellness through its HomePlate initiative, which integrates healthy snacks, hydration stations, wellness education, leadership development, and lifestyle resources into tournament programming.
“We’re not just developing athletes; we’re helping to develop healthy, confident young people,” Carrasco said. “HomePlate reflects our belief that athletic success, wellness, culture, and community are interconnected.”
Families who attended last year’s inaugural tournament described it as more than a sporting event, emphasizing its sense of community and accessibility.
“It was the first time his grandpa was able to see his grandson play because Na7ive Na7ions made it affordable,” one family shared.
Another attendee reflected on the atmosphere, saying, “We felt like we were on the rez, a big community with our own food, jewelry, and energy.”
Those experiences align with the organization’s broader mission of ensuring Indigenous athletes have access to the same opportunities, exposure, and resources as their peers while remaining connected to their cultures, families, and communities.
Na7ive Na7ions also works to remove barriers for athletes from Tribal and rural communities by creating opportunities for free-agent players and coaches who may not have access to a complete team roster, helping ensure talented Indigenous youth have a pathway to compete at the national level.
