The HBCU Swingman Classic kicks off the 2025 MLB All-Star weekend festivities on Friday, July 11, hosting its third annual event and rendition of an HBCU All-Star game.
The classic features 50 players across 17 different HBCU programs, allowing them to showcase their talent and skill set on the biggest stage — this year at Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves.
The event will begin at 7 p.m. ET and can be watched on MLB Network and MLB.com.
Here’s everything you need to know about the exciting event.
Event history
The HBCU Swingman Classic enters its third year, dating back to the 2023 MLB All-Star weekend in Seattle, WA, striving to shine light on HBCU history and the prominence of its baseball programs.
The 50 players are selected by a committee which includes Hall of Famer and MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation Global Ambassador Ken Griffey Jr., who the event is named after. Additionally, representatives from MLB, the MLBPA, and scouts are involved in the selection process.
The event is closely tied to other highly regarded development events associated with the MLB, such as the Breakthrough Series and the Hank Aaron Invitational. Two invitationals played throughout the season include the Cactus Jack HBCU Classic hosted by the Houston Astros and the Andre Dawson Classic, named after the 2010 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee who walked on at Florida A&M (FAMU).
2025 Roster
The players were divided up into two teams to represent the American and National Leagues. The managers for the event are former Atlanta Braves players Brian Jordan and David Justice, who were both All-Stars for the Braves. Jordan will lead the National League, while Justice takes the American League.
The rosters were announced on Tuesday, June 17, on the MLB Network during the MLB Draft Combine.
American League
| Player | Position | School |
|---|---|---|
| Tyler Smith | Catcher | North Carolina A&T |
| Vinny Saumell | Catcher | Arkansas Pine-Bluff |
| Jonathan Gonzalez Perez | Catcher | Maryland Eastern Shore |
| Andrey Martinez | First base | Bethune-Cookman |
| Jalon Mack | Second base | Southern |
| Kylan Duncan | Second base | Alabama A&M |
| Taj Bates | Third base | Southern |
| Kade Wood | Shortstop | Mississippi Valley State |
| *KJ White | Shortstop | Southern |
| Chenar Brown | Inflield/Designated Hitter | Grambling State |
| Justin Journette | Outfield | Norfolk State |
| Darryl Lee | Outfield | Bethune-Cookman |
| Jordan McCladdie | Outfield | Jackson State |
| Jalan Jones | Outfield | Norfolk State |
| *Joseph Eichelberger | Outfield | Jackson State |
| Jaylon Burrell | Outfield | Alcorn State |
| Cameron Hill | Outfield | Grambling State |
| Eric Elliott | Left-handed pitcher | Jackson State |
| Jean Carlos Zambrano | Right-handed pitcher | Bethune-Cookman |
| Jorhan LaBoy | Left-handed pitcher | Alabama State |
| Garrett Workman | Left-handed pitcher | Florida A&M |
| Esaid Peña | Right-handed pitcher | Alabama State |
| *Jafet Martinez | Right-handed pitcher | Alabama State |
| Yoansell Diaz | Right-handed pitcher | Bethune-Cookman |
| Nick Luckett | Right-handed pitcher | Southern |
National League
| Player | Position | School |
|---|---|---|
| Broedy Poppell | Catcher | Florida A&M |
| **Irvin Escobar | Catcher | Bethune-Cookman |
| DeMarckus Smiley | Catcher | Alabama State |
| *Juan Cruz | First base | Alabama State |
| JT Taylor | Second base | North Carolina A&T |
| Daniel Moore | Second base | Coppin State |
| Jesus Vanegas | Third base | Bethune-Cookman |
| Elijah Pinckney | Shortstop | Morehouse |
| *Robert Tate Jr. | Shortstop | Jackson State |
| Ahmar Donatto | Inflield/Designated Hitter | Praire View A&M |
| Cardell Thibodeaux | Outfield | Southern |
| Kameron Douglas | Outfield | Alabama State |
| Jacoby Radcliffe | Outfield | Southern |
| Trey Bridges | Outfield | Grambling State |
| Kelton Phillips | Outfield | Texas Southern |
| Trey Rutledge | Outfield | Alabama A&M |
| *Jamal Ritter | Outfield | Norfolk State |
| Edwin Sanchez | Left-handed pitcher | Bethune-Cookman |
| Reagan Rivera | Right-handed pitcher | Coppin State |
| Diego Barrett | Right-handed pitcher | North Carolina A&T |
| *Erick Gonzalez | Right-handed pitcher | Jackson State |
| Nkosi Didder | Right-handed pitcher | Jackson State |
| Kenney Fabian | Right-handed pitcher | Arkansas Pine-Bluff |
| Calvin McClendon | LHP | Texas Southern |
| Jay Campbell | Third base/Right-handed pitcher | Florida A&M |
*Represents second-time attendee
**Represents third-time attendee
Bethune-Cookman, who won the 2025 SWAC tournament, has the most players in attendance with seven. Alabama State (6), Jackson State (6) and Southern (6) are the only other schools with more than three players competing.
Players to Watch
Southern’s Cardell Thibodeaux
If there was a name to know during the 2025 season for HBCUs, Thibodeaux was the only correct answer.
The SWAC Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year took the conference, and nation, by storm. He led the country in slugging percentage (.847), held the second-best batting average (.439) and ranked third in on-base percentage (.544).
He was one of three HBCU athletes invited to the MLB Draft combine.
Jackson State’s Eric Elliot
There wasn’t a more dominant starter in the SWAC than Elliot, hence the SWAC Pitcher of the Year honors.
The left-handed ace held a 2.54 ERA in conference matchups, going 6-1 on 13 starts and 18 appearances throughout the season. But that wasn’t the kicker — he led the SWAC in strikeouts per inning (1.33) and finished with the second-most strikeouts (108) in the conference.
Bethune-Cookman’s Andrey Martinez
Martinez was part of a powerful Bethune-Cookman lineup that helped the program reach the ɬַ tournament for the first time since 2017. And he wasn’t just some cog in the machine, he was a pivotal bat for the Wildcats.
The SWAC Co-Hitter of the Year, he tied the school record for single-season homers (20) and ranked third in the conference for RBIs (75).
His most notable moment came in the SWAC tournament championship, hitting a walk-off home run to send Bethune-Cookman to the ɬַ tournament.
THAT'S HOW YOU WIN A TITLE!!! ANDREY MARTINEZ WALKS IT OFF!!! B-CU WINS, 11-9!
— ⚾️Bethune-Cookman Baseball (@BCUDiamondCats)
Morehouse’s Elijah Pinckney
The first two years of the Swingman Classic featured only Division I players from HBCUs.
Enter Morehouse shortstop Elijah Pinckney.
The junior stripped that title from the event, becoming the first DII player to be selected for it. The lone representative for Morehouse, Pinckney was elite in 2025, hitting .407 with a .599 on-base percentage and 1.217 OPS. He struck out just 10 times and maintained a .982 fielding percentage.
Alumni Drafted
The Classic has seen five of its alumni get drafted in the past two years. Check them out below.
| Player | College | Swingman Classic Year | Drafted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nolan Santos | Bethune-Cookman | 2023 | Round 7, Pick 207 by Minnesota Twins |
| Xavier Meachem | North Carolina A&T | 2023 | Round 10, Pick 293 by Miami Marlins |
| Trey Paige | Delaware State | 2023 | Round 17, Pick 515 by St. Louis Cardinals |
| Randy Flores | Alabama State | 2023, 2024 | Round 8, Pick 232 by Los Angeles Angels |
| Canyon Brown | North Carolina A&T | 2024 | Round 9, Pick 257 by Kansas City Royals |
Flores won the inaugural MVP award in 2023, scoring the winning run in the eighth inning. The shortstop hit a double down the right field line, stole third and scored on a wild pitch.
More 2025 event details
This year’s event will also feature marching band performances, philanthropic events, Divine Nine step show and more.
Honorary VIPs for the classic include:
- Hall of Famer and FAMU alumni Andre Dawson
- 26-year Major League Manager Dusty Baker
- Three-time All-Star and two-time World Series Champion Ken Griffey Sr.
- All-Star and Grambling State alumni Ralph Garr Sr.
