3 Takeaways:

– Former Major League Baseball starting pitcher D.J. Carrasco is the founder and CEO of Native Nations, an organization that helps promote, train and educate Indigenous youth in baseball and softball. 
– In late March, Native Nations hosted a Community showcase clinic for baseball and softball athletes ages 12 and under. 
– The organization participates in the annual Babe Ruth Baseball Tournament held in July. 

“Let’s get something clear,” began Na7ive Na7ions founder and CEO D.J. Carrasco on the morning of Saturday, March 28, as he paced along the third-base line and addressed about 50 Indigenous baseball and softball athletes ages 12 and under out on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community ballfield. 

“I don’t care how hard you can throw the ball. I want to see you throw strikes.” 

Carrasco is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher who played from April 2003 to May 2012. He has Tewa-Puebloan roots from his father’s side. He has played for several MLB teams, including the Arizona Diamondbacks, the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves. 

During his days as a starting pitcher in the MLB, Carrasco boasted an 89- to 93-mph fastball, as well as impressive curveball and change-up pitches. 

Therefore, when you look at it one way, Carrasco’s baseball knowledge knows no bounds. 

“I don’t want to see you get up here and walk someone in four straight pitches just because you can throw the ball really hard. I want to see you throw strikes,” Carrasco reiterated.

Now enjoying life post-retirement, Carrasco has made it his mission to motivate and help the next generation of Indigenous baseball and softball athletes to make it to the next level, just like he did. 

This is where Na7ive Na7ions comes into play. The organization helps promote baseball and softball to Indigenous youth looking to make it to the professional leagues one day by hosting clinics, showcases, tournaments and more. 

Na7ive Na7ions was in the Community last year for the annual Babe Ruth Baseball Tournament, which was held at Salt River Fields last summer.

Currently, the president of the board of Na7ive Na7ions is Nathan Levi Esquerra, former chairman of the Chemehuevi Tribe. Associate board members from Indian Country include Hopi Tribal Chairman Tim Nuvangyaoma, former Puyallup Tribe Chairman David Z. Bean and more. 

During the showcase clinic, young baseball and softball athletes from Indian Country got a taste of what it was like to be recorded, measured, evaluated and ranked by baseball and softball professionals, some for the very first time in their young careers. The all-day showcase featured many rising athletes from the SRPMIC, as well as from Ak-Chin and other tribes. 

Whitney Grey Jr., an SRPMIC member and one of the program directors for Native Nations, assisted the athletes with their fielding skills and demonstrated textbook form when batting. Grey coaches the Desert Dingers, the SRPMIC baseball club that participates in several baseball tournaments throughout the year. 

Athletes got a chance to refine their offense and defense on both sides of the baseball diamond with expert help at the ready. Key points such as “glove to the ground” when fielding ground balls and clear communication among teammates while catching fly balls in the outfield were strongly emphasized. 

They also had the opportunity to utilize a professional pitching radar gun, with some pitchers hurling 55-mph fastballs with ease. 

The showcase also provided time for families and loved ones to participate in wiffle ball mini games for the littler athletes who are just becoming familiar with baseball and softball. Wiffle ball is a fun and easy alternative that helps improve a player’s hand-eye coordination and teaches base-running basics. 

Carrasco spent time mingling with the athletes, as well as their families and loved ones. He made sure to ask the families if their athlete required additional support or guidance during the showcase. 

To put the cherry on top of a home run of a day, during batting practice, an eagle soared over the Salt River ballfield—twice. “That’s a blessing! Say thank you,” yelled an elder watching the showcase from the ballfield’s bleachers. 

With the amount of raw talent on display at the Native Nations 12U showcase, it will only be a matter of time before some of these athletes make it to the big leagues like all the superstars who came before them.