Class of 2029: Max Balsera, serving others through sports

This story is part of a series introducing some of our newest Panthers.

August 28, 2025 at 3:12pm

Max Balsera grew up playing baseball. It was his sport, his hobby, his passion.

He realized that other young people across the world — and especially those in rural or underserved areas in Latin America — who love the sport just as much might not have easy access to baseball equipment.

"I've been fortunate enough to have a great baseball dad and the best coaches," Balsera says. "The game has given me so much. But I had never really given back. I decided to change that."

His junior year in high school, Balsera started a project called Play Ball for All. He recruited fellow students and friends, and the group began collecting used baseball equipment throughout the community.

Balsera and his group would clean the equipment and help fix it up. Then, he partnered with Blue Missions, a non-profit dedicated to water sanitation efforts throughout Latin America, to send the equipment as donations to youngster in need in the Dominican Republic.

"I wanted them to get the best equipment possible and to enjoy the game that I love," Balsera says.

Through Blue Missions, which is run by an FIU alumnus, Balsera went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic to deliver the equipment and visit various schools.

For this project, Balsera earned a Silver Knight Honorable Mention in the category of world languages. Why world languages?

"I was able to make the case that baseball is its own language," Balsera says. "Every guy can be from a different country and speak a different language, but when they're playing, everyone is speaking the same language. Baseball is famous in Japan, in Canada, across the world. Everyone can understand it and play together."

Baseball fever

Balsera went to high school at Miami Arts Studio at Zelda Glazer. Since the school is a magnet school, Balsera was allowed to play sports at a different school. His dad reached out to True North Classical Academy to start a baseball team.

Max Balsera playing baseball Balsera and a group of boys became the academy's inaugural baseball team, and they were coached by former Major League Baseball player Adrian Nieto.

The team quickly picked up steam and won big games against respected rivals including Columbus, Westminster and Florida Christian School. Balsera and his team became the 2025 District 2A Champions this year.

Baseball runs in the genes — Balsera's dad and uncle played the sport, and, at one point, his grandfather coached baseball greats like Alex Rodriguez and Jose Canseco.

As Balsera begins at FIU, he hopes to pursue a spot on the Panthers' baseball team as a walk-on.

One uniform at a time

Whether playing baseball, leading community service or studying, Balsera has committed himself to a life of service.

He currently works with third graders as an after-school counselor at Ethel Koger Beckham Elementary School.

And he is majoring in public administration at FIU. It's a degree he knows will prepare him with an academic background for a career as a police officer.

"I want to be a cop," Balsera says. "I want to give back. I have the best parents, the best sister, the best girlfriend...I'm surrounded by the best people possible. It's my duty to give back."