VERO BEACH, Fla. -- George Malone Jr. made it a point to shake every staff member’s hand after being awarded the Rob “Peach” Picciolo Award for on- and off-the-field sportsmanship during Week 2 of the 2025 Hank Aaron Invitational.
It took Malone a couple of minutes to make sure he thanked the approximately 30 mentors and coaches that helped make the week possible. But for the Missouri commit, it was well worth the time spent.
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound catcher from Texas ended his week in Vero Beach, Fla., on a euphoric high. He mashed a no-doubt home run during one of his final live games for Team Robinson. He showcased his diverse array of athletic skills, seeing time not only behind the dish, but on the pitcher’s mound, in both corner outfield spots and at first, second and third base.
He’ll remember his final moments at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex with fondness: He was showered with applause by his fellow campers after being announced as the winner of the award. He received word that he was selected to be among the 44 invitees who will participate in the Hank Aaron 44 Exhibition Game at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Ala. And in addition to a pair of shorts and wireless headphones, he made off with a brand new Playstation 5, endowed by none other than Ken Griffey Jr.
But Malone wasn’t a happy camper at the start of his Vero Beach trip.
“I was in my head because I wasn’t playing,” Malone said of his initial experience with Team Robinson. Headed by former Major Leaguers, the Invitational featured 112 high school players comprising six teams named for Black greats of the game’s past. Alongside Team Robinson were Teams Aaron, Gibson, O’Neil, Mays and Paige, and each team played a daily live game through four days of competition.
“I wasn’t getting playing time,” Malone said. “It was just a lot of emotions.”
Malone could’ve sulked in frustration when things didn’t go his way to begin the week. But rather than let his negative feelings spill into negative action, the Bo Porter Academy product chose a different approach -- one that netted him major recognition at the week’s close.
“I just put my head down and grinded,” he said, “to prove them wrong.”
Adversity turned fuel proved a successful solution for the rising prospect, who began his baseball journey swinging at beans in his backyard.
And for those who put forth their time to guide the next generation of changemakers, that type of mental fortitude is a pillar of the Invitational’s teaching principles.
“I saw [George Malone] when we first laid eyes on him in San Bernadino,” Reggie Waller, MLPBA consultant, said. “And he had just a really, really strong, powerful arm.”
Malone is part of a talented tree of athletes, including his dad, George, who was drafted by the Angels. His mental makeup, though, is chief among traits that have fueled his ascension.
“It’s the progression,” Waller said. “We see what I like to call vertical stacking. You give [players] a base and foundation, and your hope is that they’re going to continue to build on it. Well, there were some struggles in between as we start trying to grow, but to see the realization of where he’s come and the progress he’s made, it’s just tremendous. So that’s what’s exciting.”
Waller, who’s had a hand in every Invitational (the first was held in 2015), saw something special in this particular batch of young players.
“[The Invitational] is a culmination of all the effort that we put in. It’s not a perfect scenario, but it's one that is growing, and I believe it's the best camp we've ever had … because we had great talent. I think that there was coordination of effort with all the coaches and the managers, and even the guys that are behind the scenes … trying to make sure things happen. It worked seamlessly.”
Malone and his fellow invitees received star treatment throughout their time in Vero Beach. They enjoyed premium lodging, complimentary food, first-rate facilities and world-class instruction.
“It’s really powerful,” Chris Gwynn said. “It reaches down to a lot of levels. When you start [reaching] kids that young, what happens is everybody doesn’t make it [to the big leagues], but they go to positions where they’re gonna influence other [people]. Getting these kinds of numbers in a facility like this, it’s hard to put into words.
“Every year it’s gotten better.”
“Best” is hard to top in any given scenario, but for a committee as dedicated as this one, it’s not a far-fetched goal. And if the 2026 class of invitees can walk away from camp with a semblance of the feelings that Malone carried Monday, the Hank Aaron Invitational crew will have accomplished its purpose for ever-evolving growth.