Have you ever listened to someone’s vision about something they are truly passionate about and then gotten to see that vision take shape firsthand?
That is what happened to me this past weekend when I went to the United Shore Professional Baseball League (USPBL) All-Star game thanks to the Assistant Director of Baseball Operations and “Sensei”, Ray Ortega.
For a bit of a backstory, I have known Ray since his rookie year in the Frontier League when he was a member of the 2014 road team, the Frontier League Greys. Since then, he’s played and coached in various indy leagues (including the USPBL), transitioned to affiliated ball as a coach in the Giants organization, and was even an assistant coach for the Savannah Bananas last season.
Ray saw the hold that the Bananas had on fans and non-baseball fans alike, but he also saw the issues that they have with real fans of the sport.
Enter the USPBL and his new opportunity to bring “Real Baseball. Real Fun.” to the fans.
In January, Ray called me to discuss his vision for this new initiative. We talked for an hour, and I probably said about 20 words while he laid out all his thoughts and ideas.
With Ray’s extensive experience in the game, his vision for the USPBL aims to bridge the gap between pure baseball and fan engagement.
Fans love the player interactions. They love getting to see teams having fun and being themselves. They love the “fans first” mentality that the Bananas bring to the table. They don’t love the changes to the game or all the “banana ball” rules. They don’t love the trick plays that ruin the integrity of the game itself.
Baseball at its core does not need revamping. There just needs to be a spark, something to keep the game entertaining and lively when – and even I will admit this – it can be dull. Fans want to connect to players and see a side of them that makes them larger than life but still personable and real.
That is just what Ray and the USPBL are trying to implement this season.
The rules of the game have not changed. Players are not encouraged to do “tricks” or pause the game itself for a dance break. They ARE encouraged to show their true selves on and off the field. Players are allowed to have their own unique “homerun cellys.”
Teams are encouraged to create celebrations when they score runs but only while the player comes back to the dugout, never interrupting the game.
Players are encouraged to interact with the fans, not push them away. You can often see players signing autographs or throwing candy at kids by the dugouts during the game. One of the run celebrations involves a player hitting a piñata filled with candy.
The stadium itself is intimate and perfect for interacting. There isn’t a bad seat in the house. In fact, the suites behind home plate are closer to the catcher than the pitcher is to the catcher!
There are areas for fans next to the dugouts, a hill in the outfield where you can walk right up to the fence behind the outfielders, and even the bullpens are accessible to see from the pavilion areas.
Having four teams play in one stadium brings a unique vibe to the league as well. While two teams are playing, that means two teams are not. Those teams are expected to have players out and about with the fans. From the minute fans line up to get into the stadium, there are multiple players out to mingle and greet them.
In the middle of the games, you will often see those players walking around in the stands or down at the kid zone playing a game of wiffle ball with the kids who have gathered there.
In my opinion, none of this takes away from the ball game and does everything to enhance the bond and community between fans and players.
As for the ball game itself, the players are playing a normal baseball game with all of the rules that you know. There is no doubt that these are professional players playing at a high caliber level of play on par with other independent leagues.
I saw a close game with exciting defensive plays, an inside-the-park homerun, a grand slam, and teams that never gave up and battled back through every inning.
These players, who come from four years of college ball and various other independent leagues including many with Frontier League experience, are serious about the game.
They are not there for the dancing and celebrations, those are just a bonus in getting to showcase their fun side – a side a lot of them haven’t gotten to express since Little League.
Over my two days at Jimmy John’s Field, home of the USPBL, players expressed how much fun they were having. “I love it here!” was the first reaction of almost every player when I asked how they were enjoying the changes to the league.
Of course, there will always be unsure or negative reactions. Celebrations and fun aren’t for everyone, just like the Savannah Bananas aren’t for everyone.
And that’s okay. You aren’t going to make everyone happy, and the league knows that.
While some players, such as Marcus Judd, are naturals and have taken to the social media celebrity status easily, others have to work a little harder to let loose.
Some players did say it was a bit of an adjustment to incorporate the fun side of a game that they normally take so seriously. But still, every player I talked to who maybe even had a little doubt said that they’re starting to get the vibe.
I heard the rumblings from the outside as well when I was waiting in line… one host mom complained that they didn’t know how the players would be able to take that next step because “no one will take a dancing player seriously.”
However, I am here to say, that there was indeed a well-known scout for a major league organization there this past weekend asking about players during the game and the skills competition held as part of the All-Star festivities.
There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind – if you’re good enough to play at a higher level, you will be seen. Maybe your level of fan interaction will even set you apart from those other players out there who shun the fans and take life a little too seriously. It is a game after all.
For everyone who has their doubts, many more people are embracing this new era of the USPBL. Judging by the sold-out crowd for the 4th of July game and the screaming fans during the All-Star game and festivities, I think they are doing just fine.
During Friday night’s game, I sat next to a mother/daughter duo who come to every Friday game together. They are 59 and 82 years old, but both love the baseball action AND the celebrations.
When JJ the bat dog comes out to grab a bat or deliver water to the umpires in between innings, the fans cheer and call out to JJ that he’s “a good boy!”
The atmosphere at Jimmy John’s Field is something special. Everyone I met, including the baseball operations staff (Shane McCatty – Director of Baseball Operations as well as Mike Zielinski – Senior Director of Baseball Administration), stadium workers, media staff, the players, and fans, were so accommodating and welcoming. The vibe is fun, relaxed, but electric.
You can tell that there is a sense of community among the players and fans that you really don’t get to see everywhere.
As much as I am trying to convey what the USPBL is attempting to do, I think it may be best if I let you hear it straight from the players who are living in it every day.
I asked a few players the same basic questions: What’s one thing that you like about the USPBL that sets it apart from where you’ve been, and how do you feel about the “Real Baseball. Real Fun.” initiative this season?
I’ll leave you with their responses.
Tommy Stevenson – 1B, Westside Woolly Mammoths: The USPBL really focuses on getting their guys as much exposure as possible, not only on the field, but off the field as well. Giving us an opportunity to tell our stories and have fans see us as a player and what we are like outside the uniform.
I like how they want to keep baseball, baseball in between the lines. We are still playing the sport we love and that hasn’t changed, but we add in a little more fun to it as well. I think it’s a unique way to make baseball a little more entertaining.
Riley Bost – RHP, Eastside Diamond Hoppers: There’s a lot I enjoy about this league, but the biggest difference is how much the coaching staff and league truly invest in us as players. They spend time with us, care about our development, and consistently help us take our game to the next level. Every day at the ballpark comes with a clear plan to get better. They’ve built an environment where we can approach the game professionally, have fun doing it, and still take care of business both in practice and in games.
I love the “Real Baseball. Real Fun.” initiative. It creates an atmosphere that’s great for both the fans and the players. It’s a place where personalities can shine—where you don’t have to worry about doing things “the right way,” but can just play the game and enjoy it. The fans get to come out, laugh, and still witness high-level, competitive baseball. It opens the door for us to build real relationships, interact with the crowd, and hopefully inspire the next generation of ballplayers. It’s a perfect way to celebrate everything great about the sport; as well as the work we’ve put in, the energy we bring, and the experience fans come for.
Chase Maifield – 1B, Eastside Diamond Hoppers: The thing that I like about the USPBL compared to other places is the connections I’ve made with not only my teammates but other guys throughout the league as well. Everyone here has the same goal and all the managers and Ray are doing everything they can to make us better ball players.
I love the “Real Baseball. Real Fun.” initiative because it allows us to showcase our personality without sacrificing the sport. We’re encouraged to be authentic and put ourselves out there. This is without a doubt the most fun I’ve ever had playing the game I love!
Ryan Enos – UTL, Utica Unicorns: I like the USPBL because it’s a highly competitive league, and with there only being four teams it gives you a chance to build relationships with the other players and coaches which is something unique and unlike any other league I’ve played in.
The “Real Baseball. Real Fun.” initiative has been a blast. It gives us a chance to show our personalities and play loose. It’s a great reminder to always have fun and enjoy the game. There’s something cool about going to the field every day knowing something you’ve never seen at the field could happen at any time!
Chris Schoeller – 2B/3B, Utica Unicorns: I like how the USPBL not only gives us a chance to play professional baseball, but we also have an opportunity to “build our brand” as a person/athlete that we can carry on in our future baseball careers or when we decide to move on from the game.
I love the “Real Baseball. Real Fun” initiative because it allows us to connect with the fans on a deeper level. We get to build relationships with the fans and inspire those that come to the ballpark.
Nate Mensik – OF, Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers:
I enjoy playing at Jimmy John’s field. It is a great atmosphere with a great crowd that comes out and supports!
The “Real Baseball. Real Fun.” initiative is a great idea. It gives some more entertainment for the fans beyond the game itself.
*And finally, thoughts from Jake “Army” Armstrong.*
Army played in the old era USPBL in 2023 before spending a season in the Frontier League. He ultimately came back to the new era USPBL this year.
I was debating on shortening his response to wrap up this post, but I am leaving these answers in their entirety. Army gets it. His marketing and baseball mind sees the same vision that Ray and I do; The vision that we want everyone to see and believe in.
Jake Armstrong – RHP, Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers:
1.) What’s one thing you like about the USPBL compared to where you’ve played in the past?
I think one of the main reasons why I love it here so much is the fact that the owners and management team (Andy, Dana, Ray, Mike Z) take so much pride in showing fans what a good night at the ballpark should actually look like. There are numerous things/events to do and see around the stadium on a nightly basis which gives us players everything we could ask for because who doesn’t love playing in front of a sold out Jimmy John’s Field every night? I’ve been able to play at a lot of stadiums in years prior and none of them have the same type of feeling or “magic” that Jimmy John’s Field of the USPBL has. The fans make us feel like big leaguers here. It’s 1 of 1.
2.) How does this era of “Real Baseball. Real Fun” compare to when you played in the USPBL in the past?
I played for the Birmingham-Bloomfield Beavers in 2023 for my rookie season, and I came away from that year thinking that I had just played in my most memorable season yet. 2025 has already topped it. With “Real Baseball. Real Fun.” the league has given us players an opportunity to connect with fans on a deeper scale, have team celebrations, pre-game entrances, team themes, and to just have fun again. Every game you’ll see us shaking hands in the stands during the game, playing wiffleball with kids, taking pictures with fans, and even face painting if you get there early.
Social media has been a huge component for “Real Baseball. Real Fun.” in 2025. The league has given us a platform to put ourselves and our brands out there which is something that you will definitely not find anywhere else. I have been able to promote myself and my brand through social media, giving out my own giveaways, giving fans VIP access to the field, partnering with local businesses, making videos. It’s crazy. The feedback and DM’s that I get from fans are unreal, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’m able to be the baseball player I looked up to growing up. Ray Ortega (aka “Sensei”) is one of the most creative/driven people I know. He deserves a lot of credit for this new era and the places it’s going to go.
Indy Ball Island 