FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason Athletics will host its annual First Pitch Dinner on January 30, 2026 featuring six-time Major League Baseball All-Star José Bautista.                          
 
The event will be held at the Fairfax Country Club beginning at 5:30 p.m.
  
Bautisa played 15 years in the Major Leagues with the Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays.  He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2000 MLB Draft and made his Major League debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 2004.

"The First Pitch Dinner is one of our favorite opportunities each year to bring our alumni, supporters, and the entire George Mason community together," George Mason baseball head coach Shawn Camp said. "We are incredibly fortunate to welcome José Bautista as our special guest, which makes the evening even more special. His journey and success at the highest level of baseball is truly inspiring, and the support generated through this event has a direct impact on our student-athletes and the future of George Mason Baseball."

Camp and Bautista were teammates for five seasons in the major leagues including four with the Toronto Blue Jays.

"I spent many years playing baseball with José, and he is without question one of the best teammates I ever had," Camp said.

 In his career, Bautista played 1,798 games, hit 344 home runs, 312 doubles, drove in 975 runs and walked 1,032 times.
 
A native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Bautista became the 26th member of the 50-home run club during the 2010 season when he hit 54 home runs for the Blue Jays.  From 2010-2015, he hit more home runs than any player in the Major Leagues and his 344 career home runs rank tied for 107th all-time.
 
Bautista, nicknamed "Joey Bats", was selected the MLB All-Star game six straight years (2010-2015) and in 2014 he received the most votes.  During his career, he also won three Silver Slugger Awards (2010, 2011, 2014) and two Hank Aaron Awards (2010, 2011).  He was also voted in the top-10 for the American League Most Valuable Player Award four times in his career.
 
For seven straight seasons from 2010-2017, Bautista hit at least 20 home runs each year, scored and drove in at least 100 runs, and drew at least 100 walks including twice leading the American League. 
 
Among Toronto Blue Jays all-time leaders, Bautista ranks first in All-Star Game selections (6), tied for first in post-season home runs (6) and silver slugger awards (3), second in home runs (288), runs scored (790) and bases on balls (803), third in RBI (766), extra-base hits (519), at-bats per home run (15.2) and total bases (2,210), fifth in slugging percentage (.506%) and plate appearances (5,272), and sixth in hits (1,103) and at-bats (4,364).
 
In 2023, Bautista was inducted into the Toronto Blue Jays Level of Excellence.  He played 1,235 games over 10 seasons with the Blue Jays and holds the club single-season record for most home runs with 54 in 2010 and most bases on balls with 132 in 2011.
 
VIP Meet and Greet sponsor can be purchased for $4,000 and includes one table for 10 guests, entry to VIP Meet and Greet with José Bautista, 10 exclusive Marucci mini bats with José Bautista autograph, entry to social hour, silent auction, dinner, and names listed in the event program and event graphic.

Table sponsorship is available for $2,500 and includes one table for 10 guests, entry to social hour, silent auction, dinner, and names listed in the event program and event graphic.

General individual tickets for adults can be purchased for $250 and the cost for youth 12 and under is $100.  Meet and Greet with José Bautista with Marucci mini bat can be purchased for an additional $150 per person. 

The VIP Meet and Greet begins at 5:30 p.m. during the social hour beginning after check-in, general admission is 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m. and formal program at 8:00 p.m.

To register CLICK HERE