Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr to act as World Baseball Classic Global Ambassador

World Baseball Classic Inc. announced that Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. will serve as a Global Ambassador for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Griffey Jr. played in the inaugural World Baseball Classic and served as the USA hitting coach in 2023.

Born in 1969, Griffey Junior grew up in a baseball clubhouse. His father, Ken Griffey Sr., was the starting right fielder for the Cincinnati Reds, nicknamed The Big Red Machine, after winning back-to-back World Series in 1975 and 1976.

Junior had a 22-year MLB career with the Seattle Mariners (1989-1999 and 2009-2010), the Cincinnati Reds (2000-2008), and the Chicago White Sox (2008). He had 2,781 hits, including 630 home runs, and 1,836 runs batted in 2,671 games, posting a .284 career batting average. He was a perennial Gold Glove centre fielder and also claimed seven Silver Slugger Awards and the American League 1997 MVP Award. Griffey Jr. participated in 13 All-Star Games.

He was the youngest member of MLB’s All-Century Team, which was unveiled in 1999. On January 6, 2016, Griffey Jr. was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, receiving 99.32 per cent of the vote.

When he represented USA in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, Griffey Jr. had been named the National League Comeback Player of 2005. He dominated the 2006 World Baseball Classic with a .524 batting average, three home runs and ten RBIs.

In his new role, Junior, who has served as a Senior Advisor to the Commissioner of Baseball, Rob Manfred, since 2021, travelled to Miami to spend time with Manny Machado and Junior Caminero of the Dominican Republic National Team. He is currently in Nicaragua with National Team manager Dusty Baker.

Beginning March 2, for workout day, Griffey will tap into his love for photography by being embedded with the USA National Team to capture content through his lens. 

"Growing the game of baseball all over the world is a continuing mission I have," Griffey Jr. said. "There is so much anticipation around this tournament, so to get the chance to lock in and share how all of these different countries connect with our great game is an opportunity I'm truly excited about."

Cover photo: MLB/Getty Images