Spain rebrands top baseball and softball leagues; National Team programme a priority
24/02/2021 2 Minute Read

Spain rebrands top baseball and softball leagues; National Team programme a priority

The Spanish Softball League will open on 28 March, while the Spanish Baseball League is set to open on 11 April. Spain's baseball-softball president Jesus Lisarri said: "We are working for change."

Spain is rebranding its top baseball and softball leagues, while placing a priority on their national team programme.

"The government finances sport based on the results of the National Teams. We need to field the best possible baseball and softball National Teams. We also need to develop talent. That's why we will start working on the U-12 and U-15 age brackets. So far, Spain has competed only at the U-18 level," Jesus Lisarri, president of the Spanish Baseball Softball Federation (RFEBS, Real Federación Española de Béisbol y Sófbol), told WBSC during a Zoom call.

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Spain is currently ranked 20th in the WBSC Baseball World Rankings (6th in Europe) and 28th in Women's Softball (9th in Europe).

Spain's domestic leagues were previously known as the 'Honor Division (Division de Honor).

The rebranding will come together with a change of format. Both leagues will introduce playoffs as part of a three-year development plan that aims at boosting the visibility of baseball and softball in the country.

The Spanish Softball League will open the 2021 season on 28 March.

The Spanish Baseball League will open the 2021 season on 11 April.

"The 2021 season will still be influenced by the pandemic restrictions," said Lisarri who explained that the RFEBS is a "new administration," and "we are working for change".

"I have a very good relationship with former president Julio Pernas and I will listen to his advice," continued Lisarri. "He has been in office for 20 years and his legacy is that of financial stability. But we will try to do things differently. It's not going to be a revolution, but we are looking for a change."

Lisarri is hoping the Spanish Baseball League and the Spanish Softball League can attract greater interest from the general public.

"We want to have a brand accessible to more people," he said. "We are also trying to make the most of the various initiatives by the clubs by creating a video streaming platform."

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