July 10, 2025
The sport will comply with a luncheon discussing alternatives for Black expertise on and off the baseball subject.
The HBCU Swingman Traditional will return for one more recreation spotlighting rising Black expertise in baseball.
Going down July 11 throughout MLB All-Star Week in Atlanta, the sport will characteristic the highest 50 HBCU baseball gamers from 17 storied traditionally black schools and universities (HBCUs). The match won’t solely showcase the expertise from these underrepresented athletic packages but additionally dive deeper into the legacy of Black American baseball.
Based by Ken Griffey Jr. in 2023, the HBCU Swingman Traditional places these collegiate baseball gamers on a nationwide stage. The sport gives them the chance to show their expertise throughout one of many largest weeks of the key leagues.
Earlier than the gamers hit the sphere, they joined trailblazers and legends within the sport for a luncheon July 1. The HBCU Swingman Traditional luncheon, held at Black-owned Atlanta soul meals eatery Pascal’s, introduced collectively upcoming expertise and notable Black baseball stars to attach earlier than their showcase. Hosted by Huge Tigger, the gathering of sports activities fanatics and main gamers continued the dialog on the way forward for Black athletes in America’s pastime.
The luncheon included panelists resembling “MLBbros” Michael Harris II, Christian Moore, and Jo Adell. Del Matthews, MLB’s SVP of Baseball Growth, Reggie Waller, an MLBPA marketing consultant, and MLB All-Star Brian Jordan joined them within the dialogue on centering higher alternatives for these gamers and baseball lovers alike.
Jordan spoke about his personal journey growing gamers within the HBCU divisions and the way this work goals to construct a pipeline for these athletes.
“It brings tears to my eyes to see somebody like KJ, who got here by our program and is now thriving at Southern,” stated Jordan, who will handle the Nationwide League squad throughout the basic, in accordance with MLBbro.com. “I used to be in a position to assist him with a scholarship, and now as supervisor of the Swingman Traditional, I get to maintain pouring into these children. Hopefully, we’ll see them within the huge leagues sooner or later.”
Via packages just like the Hank Aaron Invitational and Breakthrough Sequence, extra gamers from varied schools can get the prospect to make it to the following base. Nonetheless, conversations surrounding the HBCU Swingman Traditional wish to develop these alternatives on and off the diamond.
“These gamers are simply as gifted when given the prospect—nevertheless it’s additionally concerning the college students who wish to be journalists, entrepreneurs, or photographers,” added Matthews. “Via this recreation, they get actual expertise to match their goals.”
Whether or not a participant or somebody who loves the sport from the stands, diversifying alternatives inside baseball stays a precedence for the Traditional.
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