Major League Baseball is getting into business with one of the sport’s top creators.
The league is acquiring a stake in Jomboy Media, with the company and MLB set to strike a strategic partnership that will lead to the development of new content and IP. Jomboy is led by CEO Courtney Hirsch, who was elevated to the role in March, as well as founders Jimmy O’Brien and Jake Storiale.
Jomboy’s content includes Talkin’ Baseball and Talkin’ Yanks as well as The Warehouse Games, which applies TV-level production to backyard pick up games. MLB says it will work with Jomboy to get MLB stars and celebrities to participate.
Jomboy is also known for his signature “breakdown” videos on YouTube and other social platforms, including sports highlights, but also pop culture events like his breakdown of the Will Smith-Chris Rock Oscars slap heard round the world.
“I continue to be amazed by what our community enables us to do through their endless support,” O’Brien says. “When we started talking about baseball on the internet, it was just a fun hobby. Our community is the reason we’ve been able to turn this from ‘just a hobby,’ into something bigger than we ever could’ve imagined. Partnering with MLB marks a huge moment for Jomboy Media, and through this partnership, we’ll be able to give back to our community with storytelling that’s deeper than ever before.”
“We have long admired the passionate fandom of Jimmy O’Brien and his unique ability to connect with baseball fans,” added Noah Garden, MLB deputy commissioner for business and media. “This partnership will ensure that Jomboy Media will have the resources and access to MLB intellectual property necessary to help it continue to grow. We are looking forward to bringing baseball fans more entertaining content to help further expand baseball’s online presence and deeper the connection between our sport and its fans.”
MLB has its own in-house studio, but the deal with Jomboy gives it a stake not only in an outside media company, but also a slice of the creator economy, which has become a critical part of the live sports puzzle for every major league.
“This partnership with MLB is a major milestone for Jomboy Media,” said Hirsch. “We’ve always believed that deep storytelling and our unique approach to content and community can grow the game — and now we’re excited to do that alongside the league itself. This collaboration gives us the opportunity to scale what we do best and reach more fans than ever.”
Jomboy’s investors include producer Jack Davis, who is said to be critical to this deal getting done, Connect Ventures, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Eli Roth, Cameron Fuller, WWE, Quinn Cook, Billy Crystal, Josh Hader, Gabrielle Union, Dwyane Wade, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, current and former Major League Baseball players Christian Yelich, C.C. Sabathia, Noah Syndergaard and Trea Turner, and NBA player Karl-Anthony Towns.