The fourth annual HBCU Swingman Classic is set for July 10 at Citizens Bank Park, and MLB just dropped the full 50-player roster. The exhibition game, part of All-Star Week, airs live on MLB Network at 7 p.m. ET.
Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. founded this thing with MLB and the Players Association Youth Development Foundation. The idea is simple: give HBCU baseball players a national spotlight in front of scouts, executives, and fans who might not see them otherwise.
This year’s managers are familiar faces. Jimmy Rollins, the longtime Phillies shortstop and 2007 NL MVP, will run the National League squad. Rickie Weeks, a former MLB All-Star, takes the American League side. Both guys know what it takes to get to the big leagues and stick there.
The rosters were picked by a joint committee of scouts, MLB reps, and Griffey himself. A few names are coming back for another shot: Justin Journette, Robert Tate Jr., and KJ White all return. Local prospects Santino Harwood and Solomon McKinney also made the cut and will play on a big league field for the first time.
National League Roster
The full NL roster includes players from schools like Alabama State, Bethune-Cookman, and Grambling State. Pitchers, position players, a mix of underclassmen and seniors. Everyone gets the same shot.
Rollins said in a statement that he’s fired up to lead this group. He grew up in the Bay Area but made his name in Philly, so managing at Citizens Bank Park should be a nice homecoming.
American League Roster
The AL side features talent from Southern University, Jackson State, Florida A&M, and others. Weeks, who played 14 seasons in the majors and now works with the league on player development, said he’s excited to see what these guys can do against live competition.
A few things worth noting. This game has grown fast. Year one was 30 players. Now it’s 50. The format has expanded, and the event gets more attention every July. Scouts from every MLB team will be in the stands. Some of these players will get drafted or signed as free agents within weeks of this game.
Ken Griffey Jr. doesn’t show up for photo ops that don’t matter. He’s been hands-on with this from the start. If you’re an HBCU baseball fan, July 10 is circled on your calendar.
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