When Aidan Mehigan got called into baseball coach Jason­ Hoye’s office at Natick High this past winter, the junior­ first-baseman wasn’t sure what to expect.

When he sat down, he was offered the opportunity to play for the Irish National 18-under squad and represent Ireland in the European Junior Championship.

Come July 15, he was celebrating in Switzerland with his teammates — all of whom he had met just days prior — as he clutched a gold medal following a 12-0 rout of Belgium to secure the title.

Mehigan’s route to the team was similar to that of 17 of his teammates. Of the squad of 20, 18 players hold dual United States and Irish citizenship.

The team started as an effort to grow the game in Ireland, led by the Baseball United Foundation, which helped form the first 18-under squad made up of teenage players whose parents or grandparents were from Ireland.

In Mehigan’s case, both his parents are from Cork. Coincidentally, his coach at Natick, Hoye, was born in Ireland and competed for the men’s national team in 2006 and 2008.

So when Hoye got the e-mail inquiring about players who fit the bill from John Fitzgerald, the executive director of Baseball United, Hoye knew exactly whom to turn to.

“There’s Little Leagues [in Ireland] and there’s a men’s national team,’’ said Fitzgerald, “but there are no teams and no international team for an Irish teenager to play on. So therefore a lot of kids abandon baseball at age 12 or 13.’’

Mehigan said he had been to Ireland — where most of his relatives live — at least four times in his life. So when the opportunity to play was broached, he did not require much persuading. In little time, he joined the team, underwent the process of obtaining dual citizenship and an Irish passport, and raised more than $1,500 to help send him to Zurich.

So what was said in the meeting between Mehigan and Hoye that winter day?

“I pulled him into the office and I said, ‘Listen this is a great opportunity, I was able to do it for two years with the Irish National team,’ ’’ Hoye said.

“The competition level is just different, but it’s an unbelievable experience being able to put on a jersey for a country that your heritage is from, or that you’re from, and there’s not many people who have that opportunity or are able to do it.’’

And once the tournament was completed, the experience was well worth it.

“It was an unbelievable experience,’’ Mehigan said. “Being around all these Irish people, the parents are all Irish, the relatives, and all the players, we all have Irish genes. It showed me what it truly meant to be Irish.’’

By the time Mehigan played his first game in Zurich on July 10, he had practiced just twice with his teammates in the days leading up to the start.

Mehigan quickly learned that one of his two teammates who lives in Ireland was coached by his uncle and played alongside his cousins.

And with a team made up of kids from Ireland, New England, New York State, and as far west as California, there was no shortage of geographic diversity, all while they played teams from countries like Poland and Russia.

“It was people from all over America and then two people from Ireland and they were just great to meet,’’ Mehigan said. “We just shared how different our lives are and it was really cool to see all of [those differences].’’

After not only competing in the tournament, but excelling and dominating against opponents along the way, the squad helped prove that there is plenty of room for the sport to grow in Ireland. From the beginning, finding ways to give teenagers the opportunity to stay engaged with baseball has been the ultimate goal.

“What this will do is create an excitement and a buzz in the United States and Ireland,’’ said Tom Kelley, president of Baseball Ireland. “It will get them excited about the game and create opportunities for them to attend clinics and camps in the States and be housed by the families of these players.’’

Now that Mehigan has learned firsthand the impact that he has had on Irish baseball, the importance of growing the game in the country of his roots seems greater than ever.

“Baseball in my opinion is the best game ever created and anyone that’s really gotten into it and taken the time to understand it loves it. And everyone that plays it in Ireland loves it and they just want it to get as big as possible’’ he said.

“It’s going to take time and help from other countries, and this is the perfect way to do it.’’

Logan Mullen can be reached at logan.mullen@globe.com.