In honor of his dedication to the growth of youth baseball and softball, his commitment to pursuing excellence and his positive influence as a role model to Little Leaguer players, Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert Manfred, Jr. will be enshrined into the Little League Hall of Excellence, the highest honor that Little League can bestow.

The enshrinement ceremony will take place at the 27th Little League International Congress in New Orleans, La., on Friday, January 19.

“It will be an honor to welcome Commissioner Manfred into the Little League Hall of Excellence,” said Hugh E. Tanner, Little League International Board of Directors Chairman. “His commitment to the growth and development of youth baseball and softball in communities around the world, and the support that he has shown for the Little League program during his time as Commissioner, has been greatly appreciated by those of us at the grassroots level. Both of our futures are bright working together.”

In 2015, Manfred, a graduate of Rome (N.Y.) Little League, became the first alumnus of Little League elected to the Commissioner of Baseball following the retirement of current Commissioner Emeritus Allan H. “Bud” Selig. Manfred’s dedication to the youth was evident from the beginning as he made his first major public appearance as Commissioner-elect at the 2014 Little League Baseball World Series, throwing out the first pitch of the August 20 game between Taney Little League and Mountain Ridge Little League.