Jayla Santana, a 2027 grad who competes for the Dominican Republic Olympic team, is a player to watch for numerous reasons.

Born in Queens, N.Y., Jayla and her family moved to Georgia in 2014 and the current high school junior at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. started playing softball at the tender age of seven years old.

She’s always played up, which her parents believe has contributed heavily to her development, and that paid up significantly in 2022 when Jayla—at only 13 years old—made both the Dominican Republic U18 National Team and the Dominican 18U team in the United States (Team DR).

Around this time, she also became one of the first high school student-athletes in Georgia to sign an NIL. Today, she is an ambassador for several companies including Mizuno, College Bound Nutrition, Freeze Sleeve, and Salt Athletic.

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Jayla Makes Her Mark in Softball… At Home & Overseas

In 2024, Jayla was invited by Minority Softball Prospects to be a team captain and play at the Underclass All-American Games tournament at Duke University. She exceled there, winning the Home Run Derby Champion Award and Team MVP.

In September of that year, Jayla also found out that she had been chosen to move up from the Dominican Republic U18 National Team to compete on the Women’s Olympic Team so at just 14 years old, she played for the Olympic team in the Bolivarian Games 2024 in Lima, Peru, which went from Nov. 29 to Dec. 8, 2024, and won a Bronze medal.

Additionally, Jayla and the DR Olympic team would go on to capture another Bronze medal at the recent Bolivarian Games held Nov. 27 to Dec. 7 in Lima.

Jayla started her high school career at Hillgrove High in the fall of 2023 and was the only freshman to make the varsity team, but she didn’t just make the team: she excelled on it.

The softball standout earned multiple awards including 1^st Team All-Region (Region 3-7A), the Golden Bat Award for Hillgrove High School and the Freshman Home Run Leader in the entire Peach State as selected by MaxPreps.

Amazingly, as just a sophomore the next year, Jayla broke the all-time home run record at her high school.

This year, Jayla is a junior and has moved her talents to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. She is part of history at IMG as she’s a member of the school’s inaugural softball team (note: IMG has a national team and a regional team and Jayla made the national team).

The high schooler currently plays travel softball for Lady Lightning Gold DPS 18U led by Head Coach John Corn as she looks to continue breaking records and excelling at her craft.

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Making a Difference In Lives Through Youth 4 Sports

However, even though Jayla is a standout athlete, that doesn’t begin to compare to her accomplishments off the field where she’s helped so many in her community.

The athlete and her parents, Pedro and Janet, who were both born in the Dominican Republic, started a nonprofit called Youth 4 Sports in October 2022.

“Youth 4 Sports was born to bring hope to those less fortunate,” Pedro explains. “Our main focus is to provide resources to athletes whose parents can’t pay for the league fees and can’t afford to get them gear and equipment to play softball and baseball.”

Youth 4 Sports had an inspiring beginning—one that seemed to come with a divine message from a stranger with prophetic powers.

“It all started here in Georgia when some parents could not pay the fees associated with their daughters’ travel ball and we anonymously paid for them,” Janet begins.

“One day, when Jayla was 12 years old, a man we didn’t know was doing a live video on Instagram.”

“He said: ‘I have a word for the Santana family,” and I could not believe it! My username on Instagram is not even our last name so I waited to see if anyone with the Santana family name would join the live video, but nobody did.”

“The man continued: ‘I have a word for the Santana family.’”

“I then joined the live video and told him: ‘I’m a member of the Santana family,’ and he continued, saying: ‘Jayla… Jayla.’”

“I said: ‘Jayla is my daughter,’ and he asked: ‘Where is she?’”

“I responded: ‘She’s right here next to me,’ and he started giving her a prophecy saying: ‘I see you playing a sport, like baseball or softball. I see you helping children from a small town with little resources in the Dominican Republic. I see you feeding a lot of people.’”

“The man didn’t know us and didn’t know we are Dominicans, but we took a leap of faith to help that prophecy become a reality. It was then that we decided to start the non-profit organization.”

Through Youth 4 Sports, the Santana family can help athletes and their families both in the United States and the Dominican Republic.

“Here, we do toys drives every year on January 6th to celebrate the 3 Kings’ Day,” Janet explains.

“We’ve also done feeding the homeless event around thanksgiving. We cooked and delivered meals for 100 homeless people in Marietta and the Atlanta area, along with blankets and care bags.”

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Helping Those from Their Homeland

“There’s a lot of talent in the Dominican Republic,” Janet says, “but some children bury their dreams, because they lack the resources.”

“Both my husband and I were born in the Dominican Republic; we lived our first years there. We know how much their needs are. We have been on vacation many times after we moved to the United States and we see the needs of the community.”

“We have taken Jayla on several trips to tour some baseball/softball leagues, and she comes back home heartbroken after seeing how much poverty there is and not many places for people to go for help.”

Since starting Youth 4 Sports, the Santana family has been able to go on 10 trips to the Dominican Republic. Those trips have brought lasting memories to the family and have allowed them to help numerous athletes.

“We have helped over 400 athletes and their families,” Janet said.

“Watching the videos and pictures after our mission trip is completed fills our hearts with joy. Every time Jayla comes back home from a trip there and sees the life she’s been blessed with here in the states, it pushes her to want to do more for those children.”

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“We Won’t Stop Doing What God Has Commanded Us to Do”

The family’s matriarch remembers a heart-rendering experience when they visited but some little ones were left wanting.

“There is a scene in my mind that is difficult to erase,” Janet begins.

“During our last trip this past September, we went to a small town called ‘Villa Altagracia.’ When we got there in the middle of a hurricane, 76 children were waiting for us.  Some holding an umbrella, some getting wet in the pouring rain. Most of them barefoot, with the hopes of getting a pair of cleats.”

“We didn’t have enough for all of them… I close my eyes and still see the sad little faces of the ones who did not get a pair. I promised them to go back with more.”

Running Youth 4 Sports has given much joy to the Santanas but has also brought difficulties.

“The joyful part of doing this on our own has been seeing the athletes smile with confidence when they step on the field with full uniform and gear,” the Santana family said.

“The hard part has been providing the resources without the help of anyone or any organization. We have knocked on many doors without success, but that won’t stop us from doing what God has commanded us to do!”

The Santanas are hopeful for the future of Youth 4 Sports and look forward to helping more and more athletes achieve their dreams.

“The future is unpredictable,” Janet says. “I know God has many things in store for Youth 4 Sports. I can feel it in my heart. We have a lot of work to do. Our goal is to sponsor many more children.”

“Seeing some kids play baseball barefoot and using a piece of cardboard as a glove, you know that kid really wants to play. Those are the ones who make it to the MLB. The ones who struggle. The ones who have talent but know deep in their hearts that ‘that signature’ will bring them and their families out of poverty.”

“Someday, I would love to hear a success story from a professional MLB player, about a family who traveled from Georgia and gave him the gear and equipment he needed to train and push him to his dream career!”

“Sometimes we want to do more, but the resources are limited. However, that won’t stop us from continuing to give a helping hand.”

If you would like donate to Youth 4 Sports or join the Santana family in their cause, you can email them at youth4sports22@gmail.com or visit their website at www.youth4sports.org

— Grace White/Line Drive Softball

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Check out more on the Santana family story via our Line Drive social media (here’s the X/Twitter post):