​The HBCU Swingman Classic has grown into an annual tribute honoring the enduring legacy of Black College baseball. Now in its fourth year, this Major League Baseball–sponsored all-star game, led by Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., selects the top 50 current HBCU players from NCAA Division I and II to headline the league’s all-star weekend in Philadelphia.
This Friday, July 10, at Citizens Bank Park, Florida A&M will be represented by four Rattlers: third baseman Jay Campbell, pitcher Caleb Granger, second baseman Will Brown, and pitcher-designated hitter Jackson McKenzie. All four were honored as All-Southwestern Athletic Conference selections for the Orange and Green, with Granger also earning All-American recognition during his time at The Highest of Seven Hills. In the upcoming showcase, Granger will be pitching for the National League squad, while Campbell, who transferred to Mercer, and McKenzie, who left FAMU for Florida State, will suit up for the American League roster. Brown, also a recent graduate, is slated to play for the National League.
The matchup marks Campbell and Granger’s second consecutive Swingman Classic appearance; Campbell previously earned Most Valuable Player honors in 2025. The Florida A&M infielder William Brown is another participant, stepping onto the field as part of the Saturday events. This year’s roster adds young talent to a stage that has already featured several emerging stars from HBCU programs.
Former Southern University standout Rickie Weeks, a well-known figure in HBCU baseball, returns to the managerial spotlight for the American League, while former Philadelphia Phillies star Jimmy Rollins leads the National League squad. The event is widely viewed as more than a showcase game; it is a crucial opportunity for scouting, exposure, and celebration of a season rooted in the contributions of HBCU programs to college baseball.
Coach Jamey Shouppe expressed his enthusiasm, telling the Tallahassee Democrat that the Swingman Classic offers a remarkable platform for his players. “I’m just happy for them, because it is an unbelievable experience for our guys. We’re appreciative that they recognize that we put good players and good people on the field. They come back smiling regardless of the outcome. It’s a showcase game and an all-star game. It’s just a lot of fun,” he said. He noted the significance of the event for the program and the players’ development, emphasizing that it’s a celebratory moment for a good season and for HBCU baseball as a whole.
Griffey echoed Shouppe’s sentiment, underscoring the dual purpose of the Swingman Classic: honoring past Black baseball stars such as Andre Dawson and Marquis Grissom while highlighting the present generation of HBCU talent. “Sure, it’s a chance for current Rattlers to honor the school’s baseball stars of the past, but also a good HBCU Swingman Classic showing can extend a ballplayer’s career into the professional level,” Griffey stated. He envisions a future in which more players break into the Draft as their abilities reach broader audiences. “One day, there’ll be like 20 guys in the Draft,” he told MLB Network, expressing his goal of drafting and supporting players as they pursue the game they love, both on the field and in the professional ranks.