People with big baseball dreams can take a shot at getting signed by a professional team this weekend when the Oakland Ballers host an open tryout.
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, anyone 18 and older who has had professional or collegiate baseball experience within the past five years is welcome to head over to Raimondi Park to show off their skills.
“This isn’t just a workout, it’s a real pathway. Our Open Tryouts helped us discover Kelsie Whitmore, the first woman to start a Pioneer Baseball League game, and James Colyer, who recently signed with the Washington Nationals,” team officials said in a post on Eventbrite.com, where hopefuls can sign up to tryout.
Colyer is a Hayward native and former California State University, East Bay player who signed a free agent minor league contract with the Nationals after helping the Ballers win the 2025 Pioneer Baseball League championship as a relief pitcher.
Whitmore has pitched for the Sonoma Stompers, the Staten Island FerryHawks and the Ballers and now plays for the barnstorming Savannah Bananas baseball team.
She has played for the United States women’s national team and is now also on the newly formed San Francisco Women’s Pro Baseball League team.
People who want to try out to be a Baller can register online to sign up. Registration is $140 per hopeful player and is limited to 120 participants, who can’t have more than three years of professional experience under their belts.
Fans can come out and watch the players give it their all for free on Saturday, although the ballpark won’t be open for full concessions, according to Ballers spokesperson Casey Pratt.
Last year, the team had then-interim Oakland mayor Kevin Jenkins, rappers, influencers and Oakland city councilmembers all on the field trying out.
The Ballers season starts May 19, with Opening Night against the Missoula PaddleHeads.
Tickets and other information can be found on the Oakland Ballers website.
