Paz Marrero, a seventh grader at Pelham Middle School, will play in the USA Baseball Trailblazer Series in Vero Beach, Florida, running Thursday through Sunday. The series is a highly selective program, with only 96 participants, that provides the opportunity for young girls who play baseball to train and improve at a world-class facility.

“One way I am looking forward to the series is that I will be playing with all girls,” Marrero said. “Getting to play with all girls, it’s just better than playing with boys. You connect more, and it’s easier to make friends because you’re all there for the same reason. One of the perks of playing with girls is you won’t get strange looks from people, and feel like you’re the odd one out.”

Marrero and other girls aged 11 to 13 will spend four days at the Jackie Robinson Training Center, where they will practice, compete against each other and learn from top instructors, including members of the USA Baseball Women’s National Team. 

“I am most excited to learn from the instructors because all of them are girls and have (played), know how to play,” said Marrero.

The Trailblazer Series was launched in 2017 by MLB and USA Baseball to promote and train female baseball players. It is built around Jackie Robinson Day, April 15, to honor a well-known, influential trailblazer in baseball.

“I feel really lucky and grateful to be playing as a trailblazer in honor of Jackie Robinson,” said Marrero. “I feel lucky because out of hundreds of girls in the U.S. and Canada, I was one of the girls that got picked.”

Marrero plays primarily second base for the N.Y. Wonders, a team run by New York Girls Baseball. The team competes at the highest levels locally and nationally. She also competes on a championship-winning boys travel team with her twin brother and participated in MLB Grit: Girls ID Tour in February.

“My favorite part about the Wonders is that we all get along, and we all support each other,” said Marrero. “We also never give up. We will keep fighting until we win or lose.”

The Jackie Robinson Training Center is a state-of-the-art facility with a stadium, multiple full-size fields, indoor and outdoor batting cages and other accommodations. Marrero’s application included her participation in various age divisions, position coverage and previous event participation.

“I hope to improve my fielding and pitching while in the series,” said Marrero. “I also want to make new friends and learn more about women in baseball. I also would love to improve my hitting, so I could constantly get on base.”