Baseball United announces new leadership structure

Baseball United, the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and South Asia, has announced a new leadership structure.

The new team aims to accelerate the league’s next phase of growth, deepen regional partnerships, and elevate the fan and player experience across its global platform.

The league’s board will now be led by an ownership group comprised of some of the most accomplished players in Major League Baseball history, starting with Barry Larkin, the National Baseball Hall of Famer, 12-time MLB All-Star, three-time Gold Glove Award winner, 1995 National League MVP, and World Series champion, who has been appointed Chairman.

The board will also include Adrián Beltré, National Baseball Hall of Famer, 19-year MLB veteran, four-time All-Star, five-time Gold Glove Award winner, and member of the 3,000-hit club, who has been named Vice Chairman.

Robinson Chirinos, 11-year Major League veteran and Baltimore Orioles Special Assistant, has also been named Vice Chairman.

This structure positions Baseball United among a small group of global professional sports leagues where former players play a leading role in governance, ownership, and long-term strategy.

“We are focused on strengthening the organisation for long-term success with the right structure, the right partnerships, and a clear strategy for growth,” said Chairman Barry Larkin. “This is about creating a permanent home for professional baseball in the region.” 

“Baseball United represents a meaningful opportunity to expand the game globally by developing talent and creating a true pathway for players in a new part of the world,” added Vice Chairman Adrián Beltré.

Meanwhile, Vice Chairman Robinson Chirinos emphasised the league’s broader impact, saying, “Our goal is to connect with fans and communities, grow the game at the grassroots level, and create opportunities for young players to be part of the sport’s future.”

As part of this evolution, John Miedreich, a co-founder of Baseball United and former Vice Chairman and Executive Vice President, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.

In his previous role at Baseball United, Miedreich oversaw Baseball Operations, fundraising, government relations, investor relations, and the building of Baseball United Ballpark.

Miedreich brings more than two decades of leadership experience from the New York City Police Department, where he managed complex operations, led large-scale international initiatives, and built strategic partnerships across multiple regions, including the Middle East.

“Baseball United has established a historic foundation over the past three years,” said Miedreich. “Our focus now is disciplined execution and scalable growth. We will work in close collaboration with our partners across the UAE and the broader region to deliver an even more dynamic 2026 season this November enhancing the on-field competition, growing our global broadcast reach, and creating engaging fan and partner experiences.”

The leadership team shares a unified long-term vision: to unlock one of the world’s largest untapped markets for baseball through elite professional competition, youth development programmes, grassroots participation, and community engagement.

Building on the momentum of its inaugural season, the UAE Series, and the Arab Classic, Baseball United’s 2026 season will feature an expanded game schedule, elevated broadcast production, heightened on-field competition, enhanced fan experiences, and strengthened community initiatives, with more details to be announced by the organisation later this year.