Major League Baseball no longer wants to build a $10 million baseball and softball academy at Birmingham’s George Ward Park and has instead turned its attention to a baseball complex in Vero Beach, Florida.

In an email obtained by AL.com, MLB representative Tony Reagins wrote: “We believe the youth of Birmingham would benefit from our programs, however the timing is not right and quite frankly may never be.”

Later Wednesday night, Reagins confirmed to AL.com the MLB is now focusing on Vero Beach, Florida.

“We are committed to providing opportunities and programming for young people around the country and have shifted our focus to our recent acquisition of Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, FL,” he said.

“I wasn’t terribly surprised,” said Birmingham City Councilor Valerie Abbott.

“I’ve spoken with Tony Reagins a large number of times. He said he was appalled at Birmingham politics and some of the comments made during the process. No one proposed an alternative. So, it seems to me Birmingham’s not interested as it may have seemed,” Abbott added.

"(Reagins) did say he would be willing to revisit Birmingham if another opportunity came up I have not given up hope on MLB being in Birmingham; it’s just going to take more work. "

On March 5, MLB officials said they were “reassessing” its position on establishing a youth academy at George Ward Park in Birmingham.

“Major League Baseball would like to thank the City of Birmingham and the Parks and Recreation Board for their hard work during this process. At this time, we are going to reassess our position relative to an MLB Youth Academy at George Ward Park and will remain open to other site options within the city,” MLB representatives said in a statement in March.

Reagins cited Glen Iris neighborhood residents’ concerns about the park as reason to reconsider bringing the academy to Birmingham.

On March 19, the city council passed the measure that would allow the city to enter into the agreement for the youth academy. The agreement would allow the MLB Youth Foundation to spend up to $10 million to build a youth baseball and softball academy at George Ward Park.

The construction would involve re-configuring five of the softball fields at the park, essentially removing one of the fields and converting some of them to full-size baseball fields. An academy building would also be constructed.

The academy would provide low to no cost baseball and softball instruction and league play for Birmingham Youth. The academy also provides kids with academic and career training.

This is a developing story and will be updated.