Experience Includes Special “Cultural Day” Activities Such as Visiting the Atlanta History Center’s ‘More Than Brave: The Life of Henry Aaron Exhibit’ and Meeting Mrs. Billye Suber Aaron, Ambassador Andrew Young and Dusty Baker on Friday, August 2ND

Hank Aaron Invitational is the Premier Diversity-Focused Baseball Development Initiative, Powered by the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation in Partnership with USA Baseball 

ATLANTA, GA – Following a memorable experience at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex (JRTC) in Vero Beach, Fla., 44 of the 120 participants from Week Two of the 2024 Hank Aaron Invitational (HAI)have been selected to play in the annual HAI showcase game hosted at Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves, on Saturday, August 3rd. The Hank Aaron Invitational, hosted by MLB and the MLB Players Association, is powered by the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation (YDF) and is the premier diversity-focused baseball development experience for diverse high school-age baseball players in the United States.

The 44 selected athletes – a number that pays homage to the number worn by the legendary Aaron throughout his Hall of Fame career – hail from across the nation and will represent their communities in the special showcase event airing on MLB Network. The participants earned their spots following a week-long program of competition, coaching and evaluation from baseball’s best many of whom are former Major League and Minor League players, managers or coaches. Notably, the showcase game rosters include five players from the greater Atlanta region. All players are expected to graduate high school in 2025 or 2026. **Attached separately are the rosters for the Hank Aaron Invitational Showcase Game at Truist Park**

The rosters will be broken down into two teams, with Stan Kyles coaching in the bullpen for both teams – “Team Hank Aaron” and “Team Jackie Robinson,” managed/coached by the following:

Team Aaron

Lou Collier (Manager)

Marquis Grissom

Antonio Grissom

Marvin Freeman  

Team Robinson

Jemile Weeks (Manager)

Mike Jackson

Brian Hunter

Tye Waller

The Hank Aaron Invitational Showcase Game will be played Saturday, August 3rd at 10:30 a.m. EST, prior to the 7:20 pm EST matchup between the Atlanta Braves and the Miami Marlins. Admission for the showcase game is free, and attendees may reserve tickets here. The showcase matchup will stream LIVE on MLB.com and will re-air on MLB Network Sunday, August 4th at 8pm ET. Gregg Caserta and Michael Bourn will on the call, with Emily Haydel, granddaughter of Hank and Billye Aaron, as the sideline reporter.

Prior to this showcase game, the Atlanta Braves will host a special “Cultural Day” for players and coaches, who will have the opportunity to visit the Atlanta History Center’s More Than Brave: The Life of Henry Aaron exhibit on Friday, August 2nd. Additionally, attendees will hear from VIP guests Mrs. Billye Aaron, Ambassador Andrew Young and Dusty Baker. That evening, the 44 players will be recognized on the field prior to the Braves contest against the Maimi Marlins. Athletes will also meet 2022 National League Rookie of the Year and Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris, who is notably a Hank Aaron Invitational and Nike RBI program alumnus. Prior to and during the game, Harris and his mother Dr. Latucha Harris will be distributing backpacks with school and teacher supplies as an initiative of his Catch 23 Foundation.

These young men, along with the other 240 players from both weeks of the developmental portion of the Hank Aaron Invitational, were treated to a memorable opportunity on and off the field at the JRTC. In addition to being instructed by dozens of former Major League players, managers and coaches on the field, they heard from a notable list of guests from throughout the baseball community, including MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark, YDF Global Ambassador and Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., University of Missouri Head Baseball Coach Kerrick Jackson, Current Southern Head Baseball Coach Chris Crenshaw, Former Southern Head Baseball Coach Roger Cador, Licensed Clinical & Sports Psychologist Dr. Kensa Gunter and President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Bob Kendrick.

FACTS ABOUT THE HANK AARON INVITATIONAL:

·         The event started in 2015 as the Elite Development Invitational but was renamed at the 2018 World Series to the Hank Aaron Invitational to honor the legacy of the legendary Hall of Famer.

·         The event is powered by the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation, which is a joint initiative by MLB and MLBPA to support efforts that focus on improving the caliber, effectiveness and availability of amateur baseball and softball programs across the United States and internationally.

·         Over the last six MLB Drafts, more than 65 alumni of this event were selected, including 10 in 2024. These include 1st round picks Christian Moore (8th overall, LAA), Braden Montgomery (12th overall, BOS), and Cameron Smith (14th overall, CHC); 4th round pick Ty Southisene (Chicago Cubs); 8th round picks Tyler Wilson (New York Yankees) and Cameron Hill (Philadelphia Phillies); 11th round pick Christian Little (Seattle Mariners); 15th round pick Erik Parker (Los Angeles Dodgers); 16th round pick TJ McCants (Seattle Mariners); and 17th round pick Jacoby Long (New York Mets). Previous HAI alumni selected in the first round include Dillon Head, George Lombard, Termarr Johnson, Elijah Green, Justin Crawford, and Cam Collier.

·         In total, more than 200 alumni of the program are playing baseball at the next level, either professionally or on the collegiate level.