MLBPA misused millions meant for youth baseball program: Whistleblower

The feds are investigating a youth baseball program owned by Major League Baseball's

Players Union following a whistleblower complaint, according to an ESPN report. MLB Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark is accused of

self-dealing, misuse of resources, abuse of power, and nepotism. This is a criminal investigation into Players' Way, the youth program Clark created in 2019

Records show the program spent at least $3.9 million over the last six years

and a source told ESPN that figure could be as high as $10 million

But during that time, the program hosted just a handful of live events

while reportedly barely clearing six figures in revenue, outside of what the unions pitched in

The report claims most of the millions were spent on six-figure salaries to executives and consultants of Players' Way

saying some of those people had full-time jobs outside of the program

Clark, who has not been charged with a crime, denied the allegations in a statement to ESPN

Clark said any suggestion that Players' Way has not been supported by our elected player representatives

and broader membership is patently false. Players' Way has been front and center at every annual meeting of the MLBPA Executive Board in recent memory

There is much that needs to change with youth baseball in the United States

The members of the Major League Baseball Players Association created Players' Way to change

the status quo. Clark said when he introduced Players' Way years ago, he wanted it to fix a broken youth

system where young athletes are exploited by the billion youth sports machinery We want to give every young person regardless of age economics or ability the chance to become the best player he or she can be

To be your best, you need to learn from the best. Players' Way partnered with the United States Specialty Sports Association

and hired several former big league players. Former MLB catcher Chris Ionetta promoted the initiative in a YouTube video last summer

At all Players' Way events, we focus on pure development. We want to make you be the best that you could possibly be

So come to one of our events and work alongside former major and minor league baseball players

that will help you develop and become a better baseball player. We'll work on all of your fundamental skills to make you better

But the events, according to the report, have been few and far between

Players' Way held just six youth clinics, four mental skills webinars, and a few panel discussions from 2019 through November 2024

The current schedule on the Players' Way website shows three past events and five upcoming events through March 2026

Multiple former union officials say Players' Way operates with no standard accounting practices

and no annual budget circulated among senior finance officials, per ESPN's report

A former official claims there were no other events, activities or partnerships with other youth baseball groups

The union would not say where the $3.9 million was spent. Federal investigators declined to comment on the ESPN report

The probe is part of a larger inquiry into the MLBPA's financial dealings with the NFL Players Union and a company called One Team Partners

For Straight Arrow News, I'm Chris Francis