USPBL Seeks Host Families for 2024 Season
February 13th, 2024
ROCHESTER, Mich. – The United Shore Professional Baseball League (USPBL powered by UWM) is currently looking for members from the community to sign up to host its professional athletes. Host families are a wonderful baseball tradition and are vital to the acclimation of young players into their new communities.
“Our family joined the Host Family Program in 2022 and have had the pleasure of four talented young men staying with us through our time in the program. We are beyond excited to be able to welcome Bryant home for a third season with us. He has been our most vibrant and unique bonus son and a breath of fresh air to our family. He filled a spot in our hearts that we didn’t know we needed. Our house somehow just feels complete when he is here. In our blessed time with him, we have gone hunting, fishing, and on vacation. He is a great role model for our children and loves to just sit and talk with all of us at the end of the day,” said Host Mom, Sarah LaPrise.
The program will include players who range in age from 18-26. League policy is to pair one or two players per family. The goal is to pair players with a host family that live as close to Jimmy John’s Field in downtown Utica, Michigan (7171 Auburn Rd, Utica, MI 48317) as possible. Ideally Host Families will live within 30 minutes of Jimmy John’s Field, but it is not a requirement.
The families that participate in the program will receive benefits including Host Family shirts, Host Family lanyards, eight tickets per family per week, $200 in vouchers to be used at the ballpark per season per Host Family, 20% discount at the ballpark, Hungry Howie’s pizza gift certificates for five large pizzas per family, one JAX Kar Wash card for nine washes per family, four MJR movie passes per family, Host Family recognition before the All-Star Game, announcement acknowledging the Host Families before every game, Host Family spotlight on social media, Host Family parties during the season.
“I was not sure what to expect but kept an open mind and an open door and welcomed not one, but two players throughout the summer. My family thought I was crazy, but in 24 hours all my kids and their friends were home having dinner together. I knew at that moment this opportunity would not only allow me to grow as an adult, but would be a common interest for my adult children and me,” said Host Mom Kristin McPeek. “It was an opportunity for us to spend time together while learning about a complete stranger, their journey, and dreams. Alex and Jake were both amazing yet two totally different young men. They each brought something different to our home. While they were here we did everything from going to see Grease at the movies to outdoor music events to golfing as a family. We even went to a Lions preseason game! We grew as a family and learned so much from each of them. If you are considering hosting in the 2024 season, I would say jump in without hesitation! You won’t regret it!”
If you are interested in becoming a host family, please contact Mike Zielinski, Director of Baseball Administration at mzielinski@uspbl.com or Sandy Wilton, Host Family Director at hostfamilies@uspbl.com, or fill out an online form here.