The Outback TeamMATES class of 2022 for college baseball and softball. | Image courtesy of Outback Steakhouse
Eight college baseball and softball athletes from four different universities get Name, Image, and Likeness deals as they join the Outback Steakhouse® TeamMATES program.
Participation in the program enables the athletes to gain compensation for their promotional efforts for the Outback brand, and Outback will help the TeamMATES support charities that they are passionate about.
The newly announced TeamMATES include:
- University of Oklahoma Softball: Jocelyn Alo (2x USA Softball National Player of the Year – 2021 and 2022) & Jayda Coleman (2021 All-American 1st Team)
- University of Washington Softball: Baylee Klingler (2021 All-American 2nd Team) & Kelley Lynch (2021 Pac-12 Freshman Team)
- University of Tennessee Baseball: Jordan Beck (2022 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List) & Ben Joyce (Pitched NCAA record 105.5 mph)
- University of Florida Baseball: Hunter Barco (No. 7 Midseason Collegiate 2022 MLB Draft Prospect – d1baseball.com) & Colby Halter (2022 Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week – Feb. 28)
Outback is celebrating the addition of the new TeamMATES with a limited-edition series of 8,000 NFTs, which will be available to Outback fans free of charge. The promotion launches on National Onion Day (June 27th), in honor of the restaurant chain’s Bloomin’ Onion appetizer. Each TeamMATE will promote the limited-edition NFTs on their social media channels, alerting fans about the opportunity to own digital collectables that unlock access to exclusive prizes offered by Outback. Fans can receive news about the NFT drop by visiting http://outbacknft.xyz, with the exact prizes being revealed on National Onion Day.
Outback Steakhouse® will add more male and female college athletes to its TeamMATES program throughout the year. All eligible student-athletes for the 2022/2023 school year are encouraged to apply for consideration at www.outback.com/teammates. The deadline for the fall application period is August 12, 2022. To date, Outback has accepted 150 athletes across 24 different NCAA Division I sports into the program.
Outback Steakhouse is an Australian-inspired restaurant chain run by Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. The organization in based in Tampa, Florida and also operates Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar.
Excel Sports Management is developing Outback’s NIL endorsement program.
