Key Takeaways
- Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts has invested in Home Run Dugout and will serve as brand ambassador and chair of its Athlete Advisory Board
- Home Run Dugout operates a flagship location in suburban Houston and licenses its soft-toss batting cage technology to venues including the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field
- The company raised a $22.5M Series A in 2024 and has signed letters of intent for locations in Atlanta’s The Battery and San Antonio’s The Rim
- With Betts on board, HRD plans to expand to Nashville, Los Angeles, and Boston, markets tied to the player’s background and career
- The company is shifting to leaner 8-12 bay installations in existing spaces and developing temporary activations, including a three-month setup in Cooperstown
Strategic Athlete Partnership Brings Market Expansion Focus
Home Run Dugout has added eight-time MLB All-Star Mookie Betts as an investor and brand ambassador, a move that positions the baseball entertainment company to expand into three new major markets. Betts will chair HRD’s Athlete Advisory Board while the company pursues locations in his native Nashville and his big league markets of Los Angeles and Boston.
“At my core, I’ve always believed baseball should be for everyone. That’s what drives me with the 50/50 Foundation, giving every kid the same chance to fall in love with the game, no matter where they come from,” Betts said. “Home Run Dugout shares that same mission. They’re using incredibly unique technology and creativity to make baseball more fun, more social, and more accessible.”
The partnership aligns with HRD’s focus on reconnecting adults who have aged out of playing competitive baseball. Rodney Muras, who recently transitioned from CTO to CEO, described the company’s mission as finding voices that “continue to push and grow the sport and reconnect and reengage people who’ve aged out of the game.”
Technology Model and Current Footprint
Home Run Dugout’s core product is a soft-toss batting cage paired with a technology interface designed for casual participation, often described as a TopGolf-style experience for baseball. The company operates a flagship restaurant and gaming site in suburban Houston while licensing its batting bay technology to other venues, including the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field and the Round Rock Express’ Dell Diamond.
The company raised a $22.5M Series A in 2024 and has signed letters of intent to develop retail locations at Atlanta’s The Battery and San Antonio’s The Rim. Both sites are mixed-use developments adjacent to professional sports venues.
Adapting Installation Strategy for Market Conditions
Rather than building new standalone facilities, Home Run Dugout is adjusting its expansion approach to account for construction costs and current interest rates. The company now targets 8-12 batting bay installations within existing, second-generation commercial spaces.
Additionally, HRD is developing a temporary activation model. The company plans to place batting bays in short-term locations, such as a three-month installation in Cooperstown this summer. The upstate New York town hosts the National Baseball Hall of Fame and serves as a hub for youth baseball tournaments.
Athlete Profile and Advisory Role
Tyler Bambrick, Home Run Dugout’s co-founder and president, highlighted Betts’ alignment with the company’s core values of “trust, fun, teamwork, grit, solution-driven.” Beyond his baseball credentials as a former MVP and eight-time All-Star, Betts is an elite bowler, scratch golfer, and Roberto Clemente Award recipient. He has also hosted the MLB Awards show.
WME Sports serves as Home Run Dugout’s consultancy agency of record.
Looking Ahead
Home Run Dugout’s partnership with Betts provides the company with both capital and credibility as it pursues expansion into three of baseball’s most competitive markets. The shift toward smaller footprints and temporary activations suggests a focus on testing demand and managing risk as the company scales beyond its Texas base. The Cooperstown installation will offer a high-visibility proof of concept for the temporary model in a location with consistent baseball tourism traffic.
via: SBJ
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