Mac N Seitz rebrands as The Clubhouse at Martin City

By Andrew Banks

For nearly 30 years, Mac N Seitz baseball has been among the country’s most recognizable baseball training facilities. Two former Major League players, Mike Macfarlane and Kevin Seitzer, founded it to bring the “Major League way” to youth sports in Kansas City. I think it’s safe to say they accomplished that mission. 

Since 1996, Mac N Seitz has developed and trained some of Kansas City’s brightest young players, including current Major Leaguer and relief pitcher Ryne Stanek. 

Now, in a new era and under a new name, The Clubhouse at Martin City continues to pride itself on providing top-tier baseball training for Kansas City’s youth. It’s only fitting that they partner with Top Tier Baseball to carry on their proud baseball tradition. Now is the right time to turn the page to a new chapter.

Owner and general manager Danny Lake leads the rebrand, supported by his staff of longtime baseball professionals. Lake has deep roots in baseball and the Kansas City community. He played in the NKCA baseball league and served on the Lee’s Summit Baseball Association board for ten years, including five as board president. When he took over Mac N Seitz in 2017, he aimed to rebuild and elevate the program while keeping the focus on player training and development.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 15 officially kicked off the new era. It was a chance to celebrate how far the business has come and to look ahead to where The Clubhouse at Martin City can go. At the center of it all is a desire to serve everyone who loves the game of baseball.

“We’d had conversations over the course of the last two to three years of potentially rebranding just the building,” The Clubhouse at Martin City owner Danny Lake said. “We wanted it to be more community-minded and community-focused, to bring more of Martin City and south Kansas City into the facility, open it up for other teams and players so they are able to utilize the facility for baseball training and development.”

Before the rebrand, the perception was that the facility was for “elite” baseball players, with a laser focus on competitive ball and college training. Lake wanted to change that perception and open the facility to all types of athletes, not just those who play competitive travel ball. That includes welcoming younger athletes who want to play baseball recreationally.

“We wanted to make it more inviting and welcoming,” said Lake. “We want to continue the excitement, the fun, and the passion so that kids enjoy playing the game of baseball through their elementary and middle school years, and high school and beyond.”

The Clubhouse at Martin City will continue to offer the same elite baseball training, competition, recruiting opportunities and education as before. Now, it’s about growing and reaching even more kids and families who may not have considered The Clubhouse at Martin City before.

The competitive sports landscape has evolved over the past decade. Parents are seeking multiple ways to get their kids seen and scouted for college scholarships. Kids used to have an offseason; now, thanks to travel teams and AAU leagues, sports like baseball and basketball can be played year-round. But year-round sports can wear kids down if they don’t love the game. Lake believes the rebrand will open new doors for families seeking an alternative to the ultra-competitive world.

“Parents always ask me, ‘How do I know if the timing is right for my son or daughter to play at a competitive level?’ And I always tell them it’s a have-to versus a want-to,” said Lake. 

“If you tell them, ‘Hey, we’re going to our lesson or team practice at the Clubhouse,’ and their response is, ‘Oh, do I have to go?’ that’s when you say maybe we should play recreationally. Kids need to be kids, have fun, and enjoy playing the game. There’s a reason both competitive and recreational sides exist.”

Through private and group lessons the Clubhouse offers position-specific training, including pitching, catching, infield, and outfield work, as well as hitting instruction. 

This year, their high school program produced 14 college commitments, ranging from Division I to junior college. In 2025, they produced 24 college commitments. This tradition of excellence is hard to ignore. 

“We want to offer the best of both worlds,” Lake said. “I think that as we grow, our growth model will combine both. There’s definitely room for competitive and recreational baseball.”