PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The first day of MLB All-Star Week kicked off in South Philadelphia Friday evening with the HBCU Swingman Classic, showcasing baseball players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the country.
It was the fourth annual Swingman Classic, founded in 2023 by MLB legend Ken Griffey Jr., and gave 50 of the nation’s best HBCU ballplayers the chance to compete.
Pennsylvania’s Lincoln University boasted its first player picked for the game this year with sophomore pitcher Solomon McKinney.
“He’s from Philadelphia. He’s a Lincoln grad — the nation’s only HBCU in Philadelphia that has a baseball program,” Lincoln University Vice President Harry Stinson told KYW Newsradio. “It really just shows us that our student athletes are being recognized.”
Shortstop Santino Harwood, another Philly resident and a Roman Catholic graduate, joined McKinney on the field as Delaware University's pick.
KYW also spoke to Kelcey White Jr., an infielder from Louisiana’s Southern University, about what the game means to him.
“I think it just means the world, but it’s also just another stepping block, and you gotta keep working so you can attain your real dream, which is playing in the MLB,” he said. “I want to play in these stadiums every day one day.”
Phillies Wall-of-Famer Jimmy Rollins coached the National League Team in the Swingman Classic and spoke about the kind of opportunity the game is for young players.
“My message to them is to take this all in,” he told KYW. “Look up in the sky, look in the stands, look at all the seats. When you were a kid, this is where you wanted to be, and now you’re here.”
The Friday evening game kicked off MLB All-Star Week, and featured ballplayers from Lincoln and Delaware Universities.
The Friday evening game kicked off MLB All-Star Week, and featured ballplayers from Lincoln and Delaware Universities.
