HBCU Swingman Classic

Play Ball is joined by Cameron Bufford, who discusses the HBCU Swingman Classic and how that experience lead him to Grambling State

Check out some of the best moments from the 2024 HBCU Swingman Classic at Globe Life Field including an exciting 9th-inning rally

ARLINGTON -- Texas Southern’s band, the “Ocean of Soul” echoed throughout the Rangers’ home of Globe Life Field. During pregame ceremonies, representatives from each of the “Divine Nine” Black Greek organizations lined the infield dirt as Grammy Award winner Kirk Franklin and his gospel choir performed the "Star Spangled Banner"...

ARLINGTON -- Just a couple of hours before MLB’s HBCU Swingman Classic began, a group of students and early career professionals gathered at Globe Life Field’s Karbach Sky Porch and listened attentively to the panel of professionals working in sports as they shared their experiences in the industry. The group...

HBCU Swingman Classic Postgame Press Conference

ARLINGTON -- The HBCU Swingman Classic has two major purposes. One, to put a spotlight on Black players who typically go under-recruited, under-scouted and underrepresented in baseball in recent years. The other is to highlight the culture of Black baseball, which has also been lost in the wind over the...

Hall of Famer Andre Dawson joins Intentional Talk to discuss his time in the league and the differences from then to now and much more

Watch HBCU Swingman Classic presented by T-Mobile & powered by the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation live from Globe Life Field

Ken Griffey Jr. joins Intentional Talk to discuss the upcoming HBCU Swingman Classic, playing together with his father and more

Mariners play by play announcer Dave Sims joins MLB Central to discuss the Swingman Classic, promoting his new podcast, "Hey Now!" and more

ARLINGTON -- If you ask Del Matthews, HBCU baseball is the closest one can get to the Negro Leagues in the modern day. Matthews, MLB’s vice president of baseball development and an HBCU alumnus, has been a central part of what has come to the forefront of Major League Baseball’s...

The rosters for the 2024 HBCU Swingman Classic are revealed and one of the managers of the event, Ken Griffey Jr., shares some words

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Every ballplayer understands that once is never enough. You can’t just hit one home run, strike out one batter or steal a base one time to convince a scout of your abilities. It’s about repetition, showing that you possess an aptitude for consistency. But for that,...

ARLINGTON -- On Tuesday, the Texas Rangers held a luncheon to promote the HBCU Swingman Classic presented by T-Mobile and powered by the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation (YDF), which will lead off 2024 All-Star Week at Globe Life Field. The inaugural event was held last year, during All-Star Week in...

The Texas Rangers hold a press conference to celebrate the HBCU Swingman Classic and host HBCU Day at Globe Life Field

HBCU photographers develop their craft in a Mentee Program with MLB and Getty at the 2023 HBCU Swingman Classic

Kewan Braziel speaks at HBCU Swingman Classic

Roger Cador speaks at HBCU Swingman Classic

Cito Gaston speaks at HBCU Swingman Classic

Ken Griffey Jr. speaks at HBCU Swingman Classic

Watch HBCU standouts Trey Paige and Daalen Adderley hop on the mic during the inaugural HBCU Swingman Classic at T-Mobile Park

Jerry Manuel, Cito Gaston and Roger Cador speak at the 2023 Swingman HBCU luncheon

Take a look at all the action from the HBCU Swingman Classic in Seattle

SEATTLE -- At a team dinner the night before the inaugural HBCU Swingman Classic, Ken Griffey Jr. sat among the 50 players that were selected for the event and fielded questions throughout the meal. One stood out in particular from an eager student-athlete ahead of the event that kicked off...