Jennie Finch Empowerment Award recipients honored at 2026 World Series pregame ceremony

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

A pregame ceremony before Game 2 of the 2026 World Series at American Family Field put a spotlight on youth softball achievement beyond the diamond, as MLB honored three of its four 2026 Jennie Finch Empowerment Award recipients. The players were recognized ahead of the World Series matchup between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night, with the league citing both on-field performance and community impact as part of the award’s focus.

MLB said the three players taking part in the ceremony—Alina Elias, Kayleigh Allen and Janiya Pillow—are among the four girls selected for the 2026 Jennie Finch Empowerment Award presented by ARM & HAMMER. MLB also noted that Amarianna Hill was one of the other recipients but was unable to attend the World Series event.

The Jennie Finch Empowerment Award, which MLB said began in 2019 and is now in its eighth year, recognizes four girls each season for excelling at MLB’s softball-based events. Those events include the Softball Breakthrough Series, Jennie Finch All-Star Classic, Elite Development Invitational and the Nike RBI World Series. MLB added that recipients are evaluated on six guiding principles: leadership, motivation, commitment, dedication, humility and integrity.

MLB stated that each winner receives a $10,000 college scholarship courtesy of ARM & HAMMER, along with recognition during a pregame ceremony before Game 2 of the World Series. The league positioned the World Series moment as a chance for the recipients to step onto a major baseball stage while being recognized for accomplishments tied to education and youth development programs.

Elias was recognized at the All-Star Jennie Finch Classic, MLB said. The league described her as a catcher in the Houston Astros Nike RBI program, and said she is from Houston. Before the ceremony, Elias was quoted by MLB saying, “I’m very excited right now because it’s like a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” adding, “I’m very grateful for MLB. I’m grateful for my youth academy. I’m grateful for MLB Develops, and I mean, where else would I want to be?”

MLB also included Elias’s comments about what the award represents to her. She said the recognition was “more about being with these girls who also won a scholarship and award,” and that it showed “what MLB Develops has to offer as far as scholarships, money, career in the future.” The league framed those remarks as reflecting the award’s emphasis on opportunities connected to long-term goals.

Kayleigh Allen, from Carson, Calif., was recognized at the Softball Breakthrough Series, according to MLB. The league said she had been anticipating the World Series ceremony since learning she would be part of it. Allen was quoted by MLB saying, “I was just really surprised, and then I was just looking forward to this day, like ever since,” and adding, “And I’m just really excited.”

Pillow was recognized at the Nike RBI World Series, MLB said. She is from Chicago and was described by the league as someone whose award day included the atmosphere of American Family Field with a large crowd expected for Game 2. MLB quoted Pillow saying, “I’m really super, super excited,” while also noting nerves: “You know, I’m a little nervous. It’s a lot of people out there, but I just want to thank Jennie and ARM & HAMMER for bringing me out.”

MLB said the fourth recipient, Amarianna Hill, comes from Forney, Texas, and received her award at the Elite Development Invitational. The league described Hill as a member of the Texas Rangers Youth Academy and said she was recognized for her positive attitude, leadership and commitment to community service, though she was unable to attend the Saturday ceremony.

In connection with Hill’s selection, MLB included remarks Hill had made when she first learned she won the award, according to the league’s release. MLB quoted Hill saying, “And I won it for being myself, for cheering for people, and just being me,” positioning the award as recognizing character and engagement as well as athletic achievement.

MLB noted that the award is administered by Olympic gold medalist Jennie Finch. In the league’s description of the program’s purpose, Finch said the recognition can affect recipients far beyond the moment of recognition, telling MLB previously, “This changes the trajectory of their entire life,” and that the recipients “are getting assistance to go accomplish their dreams, compete, play at the next level and most importantly, get their education, which is going to last forever.”

With the World Series ceremony marking the occasion, MLB said three of the 2026 Jennie Finch Empowerment Award recipients carried a new memory from a major league field—one centered on scholarship and the leadership qualities MLB associates with the award’s selection principles. The league did not indicate any changes to the award criteria, scholarship amount or the program’s guiding principles for the 2026 class.