Nation's largest nonprofit adult baseball league welcomes players 18+; Winter Ball opens Sept. 26

Key takeaways

• SJ NABA is hosting a free Bay Area adult baseball tryout for players 18+ on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026; registration is open at sjnaba.org.
• SJ NABA is the largest 18+ wood-bat nonprofit adult baseball league in the United States, serving approximately 1,000 players on 40 teams and scheduling 343 games across 12 San Francisco Bay Area cities in 2026.
• The 2026 Winter Ball season opens Saturday, Sept. 26, with a 10-game regular season plus playoffs at fields across the Bay Area.

 

BAY AREA, Calif., July 20, 2026 - The San Jose National Adult Baseball Association (SJ NABA) announced today that registration is open for its free 2026 Winter Ball player tryout on Saturday, Sept. 12. Adults 18 and older can register at sjnaba.org. Tryout location, time,  and participant instructions will be provided after registration. Built around the message "Real Baseball, At Your Level," the tryout gives former and current players a path into organized, competitive wood-bat baseball. Players of all experience levels are welcome, from those returning after a long layoff to athletes with high school, college, international or professional backgrounds.

 

"Whether someone is returning after years away or looking for a competitive place to keep playing, tryout day is where those baseball stories begin," said Max Rao, commissioner of SJ NABA. "Players get the chance to show what they can do, meet coaches and rejoin a community that still takes the game seriously."

 

Tryout and Winter Ball details

• Free player tryout: Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026
• Registration: Sign up here
• Opening Day: Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, at fields across the Bay Area
• Season format: 10-game regular season plus playoffs, with games on Saturdays through December
• Placement: Roster placement is not guaranteed; however more than 90% of attendees at the Fall 2025 tryout were placed on teams. 
• Cost: Tryouts are free; cost to play for the season typically is between $200 - $400 and is managed independently through each team. 

A regional baseball community

Founded in 2020, SJ NABA has grown to 40 teams and approximately 1,000 players across three skill-based divisions. The league's 2026 Summer schedule includes 343 regular-season and postseason games at 19 fields in 12 Bay Area cities. Players also receive individual profiles and statistics that preserve their performance across seasons.

 

SJ NABA supports players beyond the field through monthly mental health support, community outreach and support for player-owned local businesses. A portion of fees from the league's 2025 Turkey & Taters tournament helped provide 1,000 meals through the Alameda County Community Food Bank.

 

"SJ NABA's growth reflects how many adults across the Bay Area still want organized, meaningful competition," said Andrew Kutsenda, president of SJ NABA. "Forty teams and approximately 1,000 players have built something that extends beyond the standings - a baseball community that supports its members and gives back."

 

Media access

Reporters, photographers and broadcast crews are invited to cover the Sept. 12 tryout and Winter Ball games. SJ NABA can coordinate interviews with league leadership, coaches and players, including comeback profiles. Photography and b-roll access are available with advance coordination through Communications Director Chris Hyland.

 

Players can register for the free tryout at sjnaba.org.

 

About SJ NABA

Founded in 2019, the San Jose National Adult Baseball Association (SJ NABA) is the largest 18+ wood-bat nonprofit adult baseball league in the United States. A 501(c)(3) organization, SJ NABA serves approximately 1,000 players across 40 teams and three skill-based divisions throughout the Peninsula, South Bay, East Bay and San Francisco. SJ NABA delivers organized competition while building a league community that supports players on and off the field. 

 

Media contact

Chris Hyland

Communications Director

[email protected]