The rosters of the 50 HBCU student-athletes playing in the third annual “HBCU Swingman Classic presented by T-Mobile & powered by the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation” on Friday, July 11th at Truist Park were announced today LIVE on MLB Network from the 2025 MLB Draft Combine. The event takes place during MLB All-Star Week and highlights players from Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) across the country. The players were selected by a committee which included Hall of Famer and MLB-MLBPA YDF Global Ambassador Ken Griffey Jr., who the event is named after, in addition to representatives from MLB, the MLBPA, and across the baseball scouting community.
Former Atlanta Braves greats Brian Jordan and David Justice were named managers for the contest with Jordan leading the National League team, and Justice managing the American League squad. Special guests who will serve as honorary VIPs during the event include Hall of Famer & HBCU alumni Andre Dawson, former Major League Manager Dusty Baker, three-time All-Star & two-time World Series Champion Ken Griffey Sr., and All-Star & HBCU alumni Ralph Garr Sr. Both team’s coaching staffs will feature a collection of former players that the participants can look up to and learn from including:
- Two-time All-Star, Gold Glove recipient and CAP member Michael Bourn
- Former Big Leaguers who are HBCU alumni Courtney Duncan, Trenidad Hubbard, Milt Thompson and Lenny Webster
- HBCU alumni Lester Strode, Corey Wimberly and former Minor League infielder Garry Templeton II
- Former Major League players Mike Jackson, Chuck McElroy and Eric Patterson
- USA Baseball 16U/17U National Team Development Program Assistant Coach Troy Marrow
The 50 players were selected from the following HBCUs:
- Alabama A&M University
- Alcorn State University
- Bethune-Cookman University
- Coppin State University
- Florida A&M University
- Grambling State University
- Jackson State University
- Mississippi Valley State University
- Morehouse College
- Norfolk State University
- North Carolina A&T University
- Prairie View A&M University
- Southern University
- Texas Southern University
- University of Arkansas Pine Bluff
- University of Maryland Eastern Shore
In addition to their upcoming participation in the HBCU Swingman Classic, several student-athletes have participated in elite-level development program events otherwise known as MLB Develops programming, notably the Hank Aaron Invitational (powered by the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation) and Breakthrough Series. These players include Joseph Eichelberger, who has participated in the Breakthrough Series; Irvin Escobar, who has participated in the Breakthrough Series and Hank Aaron Invitational; and Jaylon Burrell, Kylan Duncan and Tyler Smith, who have participated in the Hank Aaron Invitational. Escobar (2023 AL & 2024 NL) leads a group of eight players with his third appearance in the HBCU Swingman Classic, joined by Juan Cruz (2024 AL); Erick Gonzalez (2023 AL); Justin Journette (2024 AL); Jafet Martinez (2024 AL); Eichelberger (2024 AL); Robert Tate Jr. (2024 AL); and Jamal Ritter (2024 NL), who are each making their second appearance. Below is is the full roster of the participants selected for the HBCU Swingman Classic:
2025 HCBU CLASSIC ROSTERS
Position | National League (Jordan) | American League (Justice) |
C | Broedy Poppell (FAMU) | Tyler Smith (NCAT) |
C | **Irvin Escobar (BCU) | Vinny Saumell (UAPB) |
C | DeMarckus Smiley (ASU) | Jonathan Gonzalez Perez (UMES) |
1B | *Juan Cruz (ASU) | Andrey Martinez (BCU) |
2B | JT Taylor (NCAT) | Jalon Mack (SU) |
2B | Daniel Moore (CSU) | Kylan Duncan (AAMU) |
3B | Jesus Vanegas (BCU) | Taj Bates (SU) |
SS | Elijah Pinckney (MORH) | Kade Wood (MSVU) |
SS | *Robert Tate Jr. (JSU) | *KJ White (SU) |
INF/DH | Ahmar Donatto (PVAMU) | Chenar Brown (GSU) |
OF | Cardell Thibodeaux (SU) | Justin Journette (NSU) |
OF | Kameron Douglas (ASU) | Darryl Lee (BCU) |
OF | Jacoby Radcliffe (SU) | Jordan McCladdie (JSU) |
OF | Trey Bridges (GSU) | Jalan Jones (NSU) |
OF | Kelton Phillips (TSU) | *Joseph Eichelberger (JSU) |
OF | Trey Rutledge (AAMU) | Jaylon Burrell (ALSU) |
OF | *Jamal Ritter (FAMU) | Cameron Hill (GSU) |
P | Edwin Sanchez (BCU) | Eric Elliott (JSU) |
P | Reagan Rivera (CSU) | Jean Carlos Zambrano (BCU) |
P | Diego Barrett (NCAT) | Jorhan LaBoy (ASU) |
P | *Erick Gonzalez (JSU) | Garrett Workman (FAMU) |
P | Nkosi Didder (JSU) | Esaid Peña (ASU) |
P | Kenney Fabian (UAPB) | *Jafet Martinez (ASU) |
P | Calvin McClendon (TSU) | Yoansell Diaz (BCU) |
P | #Jay Campbell (FAMU) | Nick Luckett (SU) |
Notes:
* indicates second time participant
** indicates third time participant
# indicates two-way player (3B/RHP)
The event will feature special pre-game activities designed to honor and celebrate HBCU culture. Pregame festivities, which will be announced at a later date, are set to feature an in-ballpark DJ, a pre-game “Divine Nine” recognition and much more.
Tickets for the HBCU Swingman Classic presented by T-Mobile, are on-sale NOW at AllStarGame.com. Ticket sale proceeds, starting at $15, will benefit the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation, a joint initiative by MLB and MLBPA to support efforts that focus on improving the caliber, effectiveness and availability of amateur baseball and softball programs across the United States and internationally. MLB Network will air the HBCU Swingman Classic LIVE, beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET.