Hack the Diamond: Code the Future of Youth Baseball
Join the Ballers and Oxide on June 13 as we aim to democratize baseball for all.
Baseball technology has never been more powerful. It has also never been more unevenly distributed.
At the top levels of the game, advanced tools shape how players develop, how coaches teach, and how talent gets identified. But for many youth players, coaches, and families, those tools are out of reach. They are too expensive, too complicated, and built for someone else.
We think that is a problem worth solving. On June 13, we are doing something about it.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026
Time: 10am
Location: 1251 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA
Event Registration: Eventbrite
The Mission
The Ballers and Oxide are bringing together engineers, designers, developers, builders, baseball minds, and creative technologists for a one-day hardware and software hackathon built around a single challenge:
“ How can technology make baseball more accessible, useful, affordable, and fun for players, coaches, and families?
This is an opportunity to build something that could change how the game is experienced at the grassroots level, in Oakland and beyond.
What can you build?
Participants are encouraged to think broadly and creatively. There is no single right answer here. Projects can be hardware, software, AI-powered, data-driven, community-focused, or something nobody has thought of yet.
Potential project areas include:
- Player development and training tools
- Computer vision and baseball analytics
- Affordable tracking and performance technology
- Coaching and practice management tools
- Youth baseball accessibility solutions
- AI tools for players, coaches, and parents
- Fan engagement experiences
- Scheduling, communication, or team operations tools
- Community and grassroots baseball platforms
- Anything that helps baseball players and baseball families
Whether you want to prototype a sensor system, build an AI assistant for coaches, rethink how baseball data gets shared, or create a better communication platform for parents, this is the place to experiment and build.
What to Expect on June 13
This is a hands-on, full-day event. Here is what participants can look forward to:
- Team formation and collaboration, whether you come solo or bring a team
- Hands-on building and prototyping throughout the day
- Mentorship from technologists and baseball leaders
- Live demos and judging at the end of the day
- Networking with builders, engineers, founders, and baseball innovators
Hackathon Prizes
Three prizes will be awarded at the end of the hackathon, and all finalists and winners will be showcased during Little League Day at Raimondi Park on June 18, 2026.
"Full Stack" Prize for
Technical Excellence
Oxide builds the whole stack: hardware, software, and networking together. This prize goes to the project with the most impressive technical execution or the best integrated hardware and software solution.
"Community MVP" Prize
This prize will go to the project that best tackles accessibility, whether through community and grassroots platforms, affordability, or other tools that make life easier for families navigating youth baseball.
Grand Prize:
Hackathon Champion
Awarded to the team that best embodies the hackathon's core challenge. The winning team will also be featured on the field during Little League Day at Raimondi Park on June 18, 2026.
Why we're doing this
The Ballers were built on the belief that baseball belongs to everyone, not just those with the biggest budgets. We believe the technology that shapes how players develop and how coaches teach should work the same way.
Podcast
Oxide and Friends: Rooting for the Home Team with Paul Freedman and Bryan Carmel
Our founders Paul and Bryan return to the podcast to discuss the Ballers' first two successful seasons and what’s ahead.
Come Build With Us
If you are an engineer, designer, developer, or builder who cares about making baseball better for the communities that love it most, we want you in the room on June 13.
Let's find new ways to build together.
