The Kino Sports Complex is hosting the 2026 Game Day USA Junior All-American Games over Presidents Day weekend, bringing hundreds of elite youth baseball players from across the country to Tucson for a three-day showcase.
The tournament begins Friday, Feb. 13, and runs through Sunday, Feb. 15.

Game Day USA was founded by Rich Janor in 2005 and celebrated its 20-year anniversary last year.

“It provides young ball players with an opportunity to have a big league experience,” said Janor, who serves as Game Day USA’s president. “Our mission is basically to create opportunities for kids and families through baseball. It’s not much about how to hit or how to catch a ground ball, but more the relationships and new friendships through baseball that will carry with them for their entire life.”

The three-day event will feature about 200 players selected from across the country, with age divisions spanning from 8U to the high school level.

“It’s more about getting ready for the season, interacting with coaches and making new friends rather than the final score,” Janor said.

On Friday, players will not participate in competition, but will instead receive professional baseball instruction and position-specific training from former major league players and coaches.

On the roster is Andy Berglund, an international baseball scout for the Milwaukee Brewers and head coach and programs director of Pro5 Nashville Academy, who will work with players during the weekend.

Berglund’s coaching career has been most notable on the international stage, where he coached the Czech national team from 2011 to 2013 and the South African national team during the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifiers.

In addition to Berglund, Terrence Long, a 1994 first-round draft pick of the New York Mets, is also slated to attend.

Long, who played eight years in the majors, spent most of his career with the Oakland Athletics from 2000 to 2003. During his tenure with Oakland, Long appeared in 19 career playoff games over four seasons.

Best-on-best action kicks off Saturday within the age groups. After three guaranteed games, the top two teams will compete on “Championship Sunday,” followed by a closing ceremony.

“We’ll recognize the all-tournament team selections, the champions and finalists in each age group and then do a festive closing ceremony so everyone can head home on a positive note,” Janor said.

The event will mark the third Junior All-American Games event since October 2025 and the first of 2026.

“We have done the event with the Chicago Cubs in Mesa, previously in Fort Myers, Florida, with the Minnesota Twins, and in Sarasota County, Florida, with the Atlanta Braves,” Janor said.

For more information about the event and future Game Day USA events, visit gamedayusa.com/allamerican/#dates and gamedayusa.com.

Patrick Moore is a journalism major at the University of Arizona and an intern with Tucson Spotlight. Contact him at patrickcmoore@arizona.edu.

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