Things to Know about 2025 HBCU Swingman Classic — Preview, Roster, Players to Watch, and More

On Friday, July 11, the HBCU Swingman Classic, the third annual event and version of an HBCU All-Star game, begins the 2025 MLB All-Star weekend celebrations.

50 players from 17 different HBCU programs compete in the classic, which gives them the chance to show off their abilities on the grandest stage, this year at Atlanta Braves home field, Truist Park.

MLB Network and MLB.com will broadcast the event, which starts at 7 p.m. ET.

Here is all the information you require regarding the exciting event.

Event history

Beginning with the 2023 MLB All-Star weekend in Seattle, Washington, the HBCU Swingman Classic is in its third year and aims to raise awareness of HBCU history and the prominence of its baseball programs.

The event is named for Hall of Famer and MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation Global Ambassador Ken Griffey Jr., who is on the committee that chooses the 50 players. Scouts, the MLBPA, and MLB representatives also participate in the selection process.

The event has strong ties to other well-known MLB development competitions, like the Hank Aaron Invitational and the Breakthrough Series. The Houston Astros’ Cactus Jack HBCU Classic and the Andre Dawson Classic, which honors the 2010 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee who walked on at Florida A&M (FAMU), are two invitationals that are played during the season.

2025 Roster

To represent the American and National Leagues, the players were divided into two teams. Former Atlanta Braves players Brian Jordan and David Justice, both All-Stars, are serving as the event’s managers. Justice will head the American League, and Jordan will lead the National League.

During the MLB Draft Combine on Tuesday, June 17, the rosters were revealed on the MLB Network.

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

With seven players present, Bethune-Cookman, the 2025 SWAC tournament champion, has the most players. The only other colleges that have more than three players competing are Southern (6), Jackson State (6), and Alabama State (6).

Players to Watch

Southern’s Cardell Thibodeaux

If there was one name HBCUs needed to know during the 2025 season, it was Thibodeaux. The league and the country were enthralled with the SWAC Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. He had the second-best batting average (.439), the highest slugging percentage (.847), and the third-best on-base percentage (.544) in the nation.

Three athletes from HBCUs were invited to the MLB Draft combine, including him.

Jackson State’s Eric Elliot

Elliot was named SWAC Pitcher of the Year because he was the most dominant starter in the SWAC.

The left-handed ace went 6-1 with 13 starts and 18 appearances this season, with a 2.54 ERA in conference games. However, he finished with the second-most strikeouts (108) in the conference and led the SWAC in strikeouts per inning (1.33).

Bethune-Cookman’s Andrey Martinez

For the first time since 2017, the program advanced to the NCAA tournament thanks in part to Martinez’s participation in a potent Bethune-Cookman lineup. He was a crucial bat for the Wildcats, not simply a cog in the wheel.

In addition to ranking third in the conference for RBIs (75), he tied the school record for single-season home runs (20) and was named SWAC Co-Hitter of the Year.

When he blasted a walk-off home run to advance Bethune-Cookman to the NCAA tournament in the SWAC tournament final, that was his most memorable moment.

Morehouse’s Elijah Pinckney

Only Division I athletes from HBCUs competed in the Swingman Classic’s first two years.

Elijah Pinckney, the shortstop for Morehouse, comes on.

The junior became the first DII player to be chosen for the tournament, taking away that title. Pinckney, Morehouse’s only representative, was outstanding in 2025, hitting .407 with a.599 on-base percentage and 1.217 OPS. He kept his fielding percentage at .982 and only struck out 10 times.

Alumni Drafted

In the last two years, five of the Classic’s graduates have been drafted. Take a look at them 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 scored the game-winning run in the eighth inning to win the first-ever MVP award in 2023. The shortstop scored on a wild pitch, stole third base, then hit a double down the right field line.

More information about the 2025 event

In addition, there will be a Divine Nine step show, philanthropic events, and marching band performances at this year’s festival.

Honorary VIPs for the classic include:

• Andre Dawson, a FAMU alumnus and Hall of Famer
• Dusty Baker, a 26-year veteran of Major League Baseball
• Ken Griffey Sr., a three-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion
• Ralph Garr Sr., an alumnus of Grambling State and an All-Star.