Retired Baseball All-Stars Form Private Equity Group Dugout Ventures – Forbes

A line-up of Barry Larkin, David Ortiz, Nolan Ryan, Vernon Wells and Torii Hunter would be tough to beat in a men’s adult baseball league. But would you have as much faith in their success off the field, investing in businesses? They believe that you will.

The aforementioned list of baseball All-Stars have joined together to create Dugout Ventures, a private equity group focused on investing in brands and products that have been built for the game of baseball. Dugout Ventures is not only interested in applying the hard earned money of its leading investors, but is opening up a limited number of spots for accredited investors to participate in a $50 million baseball-focused discretionary fund as well.

Barry Larkin is among the star-studded group of retired baseball players behind Dugout Ventures. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

While the creation of Dugout Ventures was announced for the first time today, the group has already been hard at work finding strategic investments and financing companies.

In July 2016, Dugout Ventures provided bridge financing to EvoShield, the official protective gear of Major League Baseball. The financing greatly assisted EvoShield before being acquired by Amer Sports at the end of October.

Additionally, Dugout Ventures has invested enough money to become the largest investor in baseball bat company Marucci Sports.

“Marucci makes the best bat in baseball. Finding the best products is easy for us.” says David Ortiz.  “But like Warren Buffet says, ‘it’s not what you know, but how realistic you are about what you don’t know.’ We know baseball. But we plan on finding the best people in the business to help us on what we don’t know.”

Dugout Ventures envisions a role beyond investing in baseball-related companies. It believes that it can also provide young players with an opportunity to learn about the business side of baseball from players like Ryan who have played the game at a very high level and saved enough money to invest wisely.

“The game of baseball has provided many opportunities for our family,” Ryan said. “We’re excited to be part of this venture that we think will continue to improve the game and provide opportunities for the next generation.”

Darren Heitner the Founder of South Florida-based HEITNER LEGAL, P.L.L.C. and Sports Agent Blog. He authored the book, How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know.

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