July 19th 2023.
On Friday, July 7th, Major League Baseball is hosting its inaugural HBCU showcase game ahead of All-Star Weekend in Seattle. Ken Griffey Jr., a baseball Hall of Famer and current Senior Adviser to the Commissioner at the MLB, conceived the event. The weekend will open with the HBCU Swingman All-Star Classic that will feature 50 players from 17 HBCUs.
Griffey spoke to the MLB Network about his new position in January 2021, and his desire to instill the love of baseball in young people. He also expressed his commitment to bring more Black baseball players to the forefront, especially as representation dwindles.
“It’s all about trying to get seen. I mean, if I can give an opportunity for a kid, one kid, two kids, three kids to be seen, how many kids can that be over the next five, 10, 15 years? How many lives will that one person change? That’s all we’re trying to do,” Griffey said.
The event will provide players from across the country the opportunity to exhibit their skills and show their school pride. Two teams of 25 players will compete against each other with MLB scouts in attendance. “This is an opportunity for these guys to be out there on a big stage, to have some fun with some guys who played the game at a high level and learn some things,” Griffey said.
The weekend will also consist of other events, including an All-Star Futures Game, MLB Draft, Home Run Derby, and the MLB All-Star Game. Griffey expressed his hope that the festival will be a success and will open doors for future players. “My dad gave back to baseball. It’s now my turn,” said Griffey.
This showcase event will be the perfect way to kick off the All-Star Weekend and to give deserving players the opportunity to show their talents and be seen. It will be an incredible event that will bring together the best players from HBCUs and provide them a platform to show their strength.
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