HBCU baseball returns to the national stage in Philadelphia during MLB All-Star Week, with top talent looking to make its mark.
Fifty of the nation’s top players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities will showcase their talent on one of baseball’s biggest stages when the fourth annual HBCU Swingman Classic, presented by USA Baseball, returns Friday, July 10, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
The annual showcase, founded by Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., continues its mission of expanding opportunities for HBCU student-athletes by placing them in front of Major League scouts and executives during MLB All-Star Week. The 50-player roster will be split into American League and National League squads, highlighting many of the best Division I HBCU players in the country.
The event has become one of the premier platforms for HBCU baseball, helping bridge the exposure gap for talented players while celebrating the rich tradition and future of Black college baseball. For the fourth consecutive year, MLB Network will exclusively televise the game, bringing the nation’s top HBCU talent to a national audience.
This year’s teams will be led by two accomplished former major leaguers with deep ties to the game.
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins will manage the National League squad. The 2007 National League MVP spent 17 seasons in the majors, winning a World Series with the Phillies in 2008 while becoming the franchise’s all-time leader in hits and doubles. Rollins will be joined on his coaching staff by Wes Chamberlain, Wayne Gomes, Jason Maxwell, Milt Thompson and Lenny Webster.
Former MLB All-Star Rickie Weeks will guide the American League team. A second overall pick in the 2003 MLB draft, Weeks played 14 major league seasons, earning an All-Star selection in 2011 before transitioning into his current role as a special assistant in baseball operations for the Milwaukee Brewers. His coaching staff includes Marlon Anderson, Courtney Duncan, Derrick Lewis, Jemile Weeks and Corey Wimberly.
With Major League scouts, executives and fans watching in Philadelphia and across the country, the HBCU Swingman Classic continues to stand as more than just an All-Star Week showcase. It remains a premier national platform for HBCU baseball talent, giving elite student-athletes a chance to compete in front of MLB scouts and team executives. As the event grows, so too does its impact in strengthening and expanding the pipeline from Historically Black Colleges and Universities to professional baseball.
The 2026 HBCU Swingman Classic rosters ?‼️
Watch the top HBCU talent across the nation play at Citizens Bank Park during All-Star Week on July 10th!
Tickets ➡️ https://t.co/WOmYxEVAl2 pic.twitter.com/QSgsje6MVb
— MLBDevelops (@MLBDevelops) June 18, 2026
The complete 2026 HBCU Swingman Classic rosters are listed below.
American League (Manager: Rickie Weeks)
Alabama A&M: Trey Callaway, Thomas Ealey, Bruce Wyche
Alabama State: Ian Matos, Ali Lapread, Randy Flores, Trenton Jamison, Jamal George
Bethune-Cookman: Sergio Rivera, Jose Rivera
Coppin State: Maxwell Bessellieu, Brody Carroll, Franky Ferriera, Justin Johnson
Delaware State: Santino Harwood, Krew Bouldin
Jackson State: Jordan Senegal, Ethan Stamps
Mississippi Valley State: Eric Williams
Norfolk State: Justin Journette, Jamal Ritter
Prairie View A&M: Ryland Duson
Southern: Myles Dismukes, Ryan Hunter, Jaylon Lucky, Jacoby Radcliffe, KJ White Jr.
Texas Southern: Justin Mays, Byron Robinson Jr., Jonathan Trejo
Arkansas-Pine Bluff: Kenny Fabian, Aaron Grant, Julian Porter
National League (Manager: Jimmy Rollins)
Alcorn State: Gage Peterson
Florida A&M: Jeremiah Jenkins, Janmikell Bastardo, Hunter Viets, Caleb Granger
Grambling State: Kaelan Hill, Cameron Gray, Carlos Peguero
Hampton: Anthony Hernandez, Jack Campbell, Coby Rogers
Kentucky State: Tervell Johnson, Zamir Ealy
Lincoln (Pa.): Solomon McKinney
North Carolina A&T: Xavier Bussey, Bryce Jackson, Adari Carter
North Carolina Central: Justin Bowers, Dallas Bailey
Winston-Salem State: Nick Parham
WBN MLB: https://worldbaseball.com/league/mlb/
Photo: National League third baseman/right-handed pitcher Jay Campbell of Florida A&M (29) throws a ball during the ninth inning of the HBCU Swingman Classic at Truist Park, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Atlanta. The National League won 7-4 over the American League. (Hyosub Shin/Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
