NORFOLK, Va. – Three Norfolk State baseball players have been selected to play in the second annual HBCU Swingman Classic presented by T-Mobile. Major League Baseball (MLB) revealed the rosters for the top-notch event on Tuesday afternoon.
 
Justin Journette, Manny Jackson, and Jamal Ritter earned the nod after stellar 2024 seasons. Jackson will make his second appearance in the event, playing in the 2023 inaugural game as well.
 
Teams for the second annual HBCU All-Star experience were selected by a committee which included Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. in addition to representatives from MLB, the MLBPA, and across the baseball scouting community.
 
Teams will be managed by three-time all-star and two-time World Series champion Ken Griffey Sr. and Lloyd McClendon, with coaching staffs including Hall of Famer & HBCU alumnus Andre Dawson and former Major League manager Jerry Manuel, former big leaguer Mark Mclemore.
 
Tickets for the HBCU Swingman Classic, which includes a special battle of the bands in-game event, are on-sale now at AllStarGame.com. Ticket sale proceeds, starting at $15, will benefit the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation, a joint initiative by MLB and the MLBPA to support efforts that focus on improving the caliber, effectiveness, and availability of amateur baseball and softball programs across the United State and internationally.
 
MLB Network will air the HBCU Swingman Classic live on Friday, July 12 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
 
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