10th Annual Home Town Bats Home Run Derby

The 10th Annual Home Town Bats Home Run Derby brought families, baseball fans, and local supporters together for one of the most meaningful nights of the south-metro summer. Held Saturday, June 27, at Union Hill Ballpark near New Prague, Minnesota, the event delivered everything people have come to expect from this local tradition: big swings, a packed ballpark, family fun, and a powerful cause at the center of it all.⁠

Jeff Belzer’s was proud to sponsor this year’s Home Run Derby and support an event that uses baseball to make a real difference for local families.

A Home Run Derby Built on Giving Back

Home Town Bats, the wooden bat company owned by Ted Nytes, has built the Home Run Derby into much more than a baseball event. Each year, the derby raises support for someone in the community facing difficult circumstances. The event rallies neighbors, sponsors, players, and families around a cause that matters.

Now in its 10th year, the Home Town Bats Home Run Derby has grown from a friendly local slugfest into a heartfelt community tradition. The event combines the energy of a summer baseball night with a mission rooted in generosity, connection, and local pride.

This Year’s Honoree: Jacob Kirchner

The 2026 derby honored 14-year-old Jacob Kirchner of Belle Plaine.⁠

Jacob grew up loving baseball. At age 7, after unusual signs began showing up while he was running the basepaths, Jacob was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, also known as DMD. DMD is a rare genetic disorder that prevents the body from producing dystrophin, a protein muscles need to stay strong and stable. Over time, the disease causes muscles to weaken and break down.

There is currently no cure for DMD. Since his diagnosis, Jacob has received weekly treatments to help slow the progression of the disease. He continued doing the things so many kids love — riding bikes, playing baseball and football, swimming, and spending time with friends and family — until age 12, when he lost the ability to walk.⁠

Through it all, Jacob’s love for baseball has never gone away. This year, he will continue staying close to the game by announcing for the Belle Plaine Tigers at high school baseball games. His story, his courage, and his connection to the sport made him a fitting honoree for a night centered around baseball and community support.

A Packed Ballpark for a Powerful Cause

Union Hill Ballpark was filled with the sights and sounds of a summer baseball celebration. Local sluggers stepped up to the plate and swung for the fences while fans cheered from the stands. Families enjoyed food, beverages, kids’ games, auctions, and the kind of small-town ballpark atmosphere that makes events like this feel special.

But while the home runs brought the crowd to its feet, the purpose behind the event is what made the night unforgettable.

Community members, sponsors, volunteers, and supporters came together to raise money for Jacob and his family. Through silent auctions, live auctions, food sales, donations, and sponsorship support, the event helped provide Jacob’s family with a brand-new mobility van. The van allows Jacob to drive his scooter directly up a ramp, making travel easier, safer, and more accessible for everyday life.

It was a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community rallies around one of its own.

Proud to Support a Community Tradition

Jeff Belzer’s is grateful to be part of events that bring people together and create lasting impact close to home. The Home Town Bats Home Run Derby is a perfect example of what makes local partnerships so meaningful: neighbors supporting neighbors, businesses stepping up, and families gathering around a cause bigger than the game itself.

As a sponsor of the 2026 Home Run Derby, Jeff Belzer’s was proud to help support Jacob, the Kirchner family, Home Town Bats, and everyone who helped make the 10th annual event such a memorable night.⁠

From the first swing to the final fireworks, the evening showed why the Home Town Bats Home Run Derby has become one of the most heartfelt traditions on the south-metro baseball calendar.

How to Support Jacob and the Home Town Bats Foundation

The derby may be over, but support for Jacob and future Home Town Bats Foundation beneficiaries continues.

Donations can be made to the Hometown Bats Foundation through:

• Venmo: @HomeTownBatsDerby
• Mail: 20401 300th St., New Prague, MN
• Checks payable to: Hometown Bats Foundation
• In person: First Bank and Trust in New Prague

For more information, contact Ted Nytes at [email protected].

More From Belzer in the Community

The Home Town Bats Home Run Derby is one of the many ways Jeff Belzer’s gives back to the community. Interested learning more about our initiatives? Visit our community landing page, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest!