WAPPINGERS FALLS- The Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, and the Bhutan Baseball & Softball Association are ecstatic to announce a first-of-its-kind event in Minor League Baseball, as the organizations have partnered to create Bhutan Night, a cultural program aimed at growing the game of baseball in the Kingdom of Bhutan.
Athletes from Bhutan will be given a VIP experience for the team’s game on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, against the Wilmington Blue Rocks, part of a days-long baseball, sightseeing, and cultural enrichment journey in New York, a trip made possible in partnership with Dutchess Tourism.
“When we first learned about baseball in Bhutan last summer, our first instinct was ‘How can the Renegades be a part of this?’” said Zach Betkowski, General Manager of the Renegades. “After our first conversation with Matt DeSantis from the Bhutan Baseball & Softball Association, it was clear that this had the potential to be truly special, and the event took off from there.”
“With over a decade of baseball being played in Bhutan, having this extraordinary opportunity for young Bhutanese to play ball in the very valleys where I first fell in love with the game is a heartfelt moment. We hope it inspires them to continue their journey in the sport,” expressed Matthew DeSantis, a native of Fairfield County, Connecticut who introduced baseball to Bhutan, and currently chairs the Bhutan Baseball & Softball Association. “We are grateful to the Renegades for their commitment to growing baseball and providing opportunities for kids near and far to learn about the professional acumen of the sport, both on and off the diamond.”
As highlighted in a viral article by Michael Clair at MLB.com last August, baseball has become the fastest-growing sport in Bhutan, with more than 6,000 children playing in a nation of around 700,000 citizens. The Bhutan Baseball & Softball Association has organized youth leagues…
Read the full article here
Leave a Reply