Darryl Strawberry emphasizes the urgent need for Major League Baseball (MLB) to rejuvenate its presence in inner cities to increase the percentage of Black players in the league. He argues that while academies exist elsewhere, they fail to connect with urban youth, who historically thrived in organized baseball environments.

Currently, Black players make up only 6.2% of MLB rosters, a significant decline from 18% in 1991. Strawberry advocates for better marketing strategies to attract young Black athletes, noting that sports like basketball effectively draw participation through player branding and marketing.