Future on display at Hank Aaron Invitational

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- For Rookie Shepard, an opportunity to participate in the Hank Aaron Invitational is nothing short of a dream.

Even with it being his second straight year participating in the event, an opportunity to wear Hank Aaron’s name across his chest and play at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex is something he doesn’t take for granted.

“This is everything I could dream for,“ Shepard said. “Being 15, my parents talk about this all the time. They wish they had experiences like this. It’s definitely special. I’m honored and blessed to be here.”

The Hank Aaron Invitational is an annual youth-oriented, on-field diversity initiative that aims to get high school-age players with diverse backgrounds to the next levels of the game.

Along with Shepard, Quentin Young and Dylan Minnatee are each returning to the Hank Aaron Invitational. Young is in his third year participating in the event, and Minnatee is in his second.

Kaden Paris, an outfielder from Oakland, is one of the newcomers. His older brother, Kyren Paris, played in the event in 2018. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels with the No. 55 overall selection in 2019, and the 21-year-old third baseman currently plays for the Angels’ Double-A affiliate.

“My brother has inspired me in a lot of ways,“ Kaden said. “Seeing all the work he put in, it really showed me what I have to do to get to the highest level.”

Paris, Shepard, Young and Minnatee are each in the class of 2026.

Shepard, who primarily plays middle infield, is from North Las Vegas and has spent most of the summer in Georgia and Florida playing in tournaments. He is committed to the University of Miami.

With this being his second year participating in the Hank Aaron Invitational, he has tried to take some first-year participants under his wing after his experience last year.

“I’ve gotten to relax some guys down,“ Shepard said. “Guys get amped up like I was last year, making the same mistakes I was. Slowing them down and continuing to support them and push them as well.”

Shepard plays at Faith Lutheran High School.

Young, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound shortstop from Oaks Christian School in Camarillo, Calif., primarily plays shortstop and is in his third year participating in the Hank Aaron Invitational. He also had one of the most impressive hits of the day, hitting a home run the other way to right-center field.

Young, along with Shepard and Minnatee, is also a part of The Program, a 16U travel ball team supported by MLB.

“The Program is basically another Breakthrough Series, but it has more kids, and instead of just playing one tournament, we’re practicing and playing in multiple tournaments and getting better as a team with new people.” Young said.

Minnatee, who is from Elk Grove, Calif., pitches and plays first base, though he prefers the latter. He got the start in his game and overcame a shaky beginning to pitch two shutout innings, including a six-pitch second inning.

In his time at the Hank Aaron Invitational, Minnatee said he’s grown close with his coach, Brian Hunter, a fellow lefty first baseman who played for seven teams across nine years in the big leagues.

Minnatee, who plays at Franklin High School, has also built a relationship with pitching coach Marvin Freeman. Freeman pitched for four different teams in his 10-year career in the big leagues.

“Freeman has helped me with staying in my legs,” Minnatee said. “Using my back leg [and] pushing off as much as I can to create power.”

For Paris, who plays at the Freedom school, one of the biggest things he said he’s focusing on at the Hank Aaron Invitational is improving his defense in center field. Among the coaches helping him is former 11-year MLB veteran Michael Bourn, a two-time Gold Glover and All-Star. He played for six teams in the big leagues.

“Coming out here, getting all the information from Michael Bourn and other coaches like that -- it was really a good thing to teach me how to approach the ball better, and stay through it and getting my arms locked,” Paris said.

While each player relish the opportunity to learn from big league coaches, they also echoed the importance of using that knowledge to give back to fellow baseball players.

“I want to be pushed as a player, so I’m just passing that down to these younger players,” Shepard said. “We’re all learning as a family.”