KLUTCH Sports Group Acquires REP 1 Baseball

KLUTCH Sports Group has acquired REP 1 Baseball, a full-service sports agency representing some of the biggest names in Major League Baseball, and announced the formation of KLUTCH Baseball. Chris Koras, current CEO of REP 1 Baseball, will serve as the Head of Baseball for the new division at KLUTCH, which is known for its representation of elite athletes in basketball, football and beyond. KLUTCH is a strategic partner of United Talent Agency (UTA), a leading global talent, sports, entertainment, and advisory company.

In making the announcement, KLUTCH Sports Group Founder and CEO Rich Paul stated, “We believe in the transformative power of sports, and this move into baseball aligns perfectly with our commitment to excellence, innovation, and best-in-class representation for the world’s most talented athletes. The game of baseball has a special place in the hearts of sports fans around the world, and we're thrilled to extend KLUTCH’s reach into this sport and to welcome Chris, the team, and their clients to KLUTCH.”

“Sports is an important part of UTA’s long-term strategy, with KLUTCH and its growing representation business at the heart of our vision. The formation of KLUTCH Baseball adds another exciting dimension to the range of talent we represent and the expanding capabilities we can offer them,” stated Andrew Thau, COO of UTA and Co-Head of UTA Sports.

Chris Koras, Head of KLUTCH Baseball, stated, “Meaningful progress in baseball representation is long overdue. This move signals a shift in conventional thinking and reinforces our commitment to our clients by uniting our unparalleled contract negotiations and servicing with the expansive client-focused 360 approach and cultural significance that UTA and KLUTCH are known for. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to elevate player expectations as they seek fulfillment during and long after their playing careers.”

Previously, Chris Koras served as the CEO of REP 1 Baseball. During his tenure, REP 1 has grown into one of the largest representation firms in baseball with a strong presence in both domestic and international markets. Since its founding in 2015, REP 1 developed into a leading agency for professional baseball players from North America and Latin America. With a team that has negotiated over $2 billion in contracts, five of which were over $100 million, REP 1 clients include Rafael Devers, Devin Williams, Andrés Giménez, Gabriel Moreno, Starling Marte, Freddy Peralta, Leody Tavares and 2023 first round draft picks Jacob Gonzalez and Enrique Bradfield, among others. Koras will be joined by the accomplished REP 1 leadership team. Peter Greenberg will serve as President of Baseball, Nelson Montes de Oca as VP of Latin America and Nate Heisler as VP of North America.

This acquisition follows the naming of Thau and Paul as Co-Heads of UTA Sports earlier this year, signaling future  growth plans in the sports space. 

About KLUTCH Sports Group

Founded in 2012 by CEO Rich Paul, KLUTCH Sports Group is a premier agency representing some of the world’s biggest athletes across major professional sports. Minority-owned and women-led, KLUTCH’s unique, 360 approach helps clients at any stage of their career maximize opportunities across the rapidly changing entertainment, media, and business landscape, and provides strategic support in partnerships, branding, communications, social responsibility, and more. With proven expertise in the intersections of sports, entertainment, and culture, KLUTCH connects top teams, major leagues, and properties with global brands. In 2019, KLUTCH partnered with UTA, and in 2021, KLUTCH was recognized on TIME Magazine’s first-ever list of TIME100 Most Influential Companies.

UTA

UTA unites ideas, opportunities, and talent. The company represents some of the world's most iconic, barrier-breaking artists, creators and changemakers—from actors, athletes and musicians to writers, gamers, writers and digital influencers. One of the most influential companies in global entertainment, UTA's business spans talent representation, content production, as well as strategic advisory and marketing work with some of the world's biggest brands. Affiliated companies include Digital Brand Architects, KLUTCH Sports Group, Curtis Brown Group and MediaLink. UTA is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, New York and London.