The British Baseball Federation is proud to announce the group of players nominated by their clubs to be a part of the inaugural Emerging Players Programme (EPP).
As part of the pilot phase, the BBF invited a select group of clubs in the Midlands, South West, East of England, London and South East regions to nominate players who met the criteria to step up from the club environment and begin their first steps along the Talent Pathway.
The two pilot EPPs are based in and around London & the South East and the Midlands.
Will Lintern, the EPP Director, said “This is an amazing opportunity for players to be in a group of their peers, supported by an experienced group of coaches to explore and develop their skills and love for baseball.”
EPP – London & South East
| Harrison Astbury | Brighton Fireballs |
| Finlay Ballard | Brighton Fireballs |
| Jack D’Cruze Howarth | Greenwich Giants |
| Freddie Jones | Croydon Parrots |
| Gil Jones | Croydon Parrots |
| Kellen Karachuk | Brighton Fireballs |
| Kireon Karachuk | Brighton Fireballs |
| Tora Kim Saito | Croydon Parrots |
| Felix Mahon | Croydon Parrots |
| Toby Mann | Greenwich Giants |
| Austin Nichols | Brighton Fireballs |
| Leila Reis Mackinnon | London Mets |
| Summer Roye | Greenwich Giants |
| Hughie Skinner | Greenwich Giants |
| Henry Smyth | Guildford Mavericks |
| Matteo Steele | Greenwich Giants |
| Alexander Taylor | Guildford Mavericks |
| Finn Todd | Greenwich Giants |
| Jacob Wade | Bristol Baseball Club |
EPP – Midlands
| Oscar Allsop | Leicester Blue Sox |
| Rufus Almond | Bristol Baseball Club |
| George Bains | Oxford Kings |
| Henry Beardsley | Leicester Blue Sox |
| Tahla Bin Qasim | Cambridge Baseball Club |
| Matei Daraban-Gledhill | Oxford Owls |
| Nathan Goodhew | Bristol Baseball Club |
| Lukas Kahn | Oxford Owls |
| Maëla Le Mouëllic | Cambridge Baseball Club |
| Nolwenn Le Mouëllic | Cambridge Baseball Club |
| Billy McLeod | Birmingham Goats |
| Luke Mulholland | Herts Baseball Club |
| Victor Ovseiko | Oxford Owls |
| Ethan Pearson | Birmingham Goats |
| Mark Rowe | Birmingham Goats |
| Florence Stone | Birmingham Goats |
| Ruban Suman | Oxford Owls |
| Charlie Thain | Birmingham Goats |
| Cole Walters | Broughton Astley Black Sox |
| Charlie Warrilow | Oxford Owls |
| Solomon Wells | Oxford Owls |
The EPP is a joint initiative between the British Baseball Federation, Great Britain Baseball and BaseballSoftballUK, with funding being made available through Sport England, and is the first step in the new National Talent Development Pathway.
“The Emerging Players Programme builds another important development link for young players between their clubs and the Great Britain national programme,” said Glenn Taylor, BBF Youth Commissioner. “The two pilot programmes have started with great success and we look forward to the future with great promise.”
Head of Youth Development at Birmingham Baseball Club Said Bayan said, “This type of initiative can only be good for the development of young talent as it provides a clear pathway for them to the national programme. We are delighted that several of our young players are able to benefit from the EPP.”
Henna Roberts, Club Secretary of the Greenwich Giants Baseball Club had this to say about the EPP. “We’re incredibly proud that players from the Greenwich Giants alongside other clubs have been selected for the Emerging Players Programme. This is a significant moment not just for our club, but for the wider development of baseball in Britain.”
Expansion of the EPP into more regions is planned for 2027 and beyond. Any players who wish to be considered for future EPPs and talent development plans should email epp@britishbaseball.org.uk with an accompanying letter and recommendation from their club coach.