Rosters Announced for the “Hank Aaron Invitational” Showcase Game, Scheduled for Saturday, August 2nd at Suntrust Park
In Addition to Saturday’s Showcase, Atlanta Braves Hosting An Overall Experience That Includes Tour of Civil Rights Movement Landmarks on Friday, Two Games at SunTrust, and Lunch with Hank Aaron
Hank Aaron Invitational is the Premier, Diversity-Focused Youth Baseball Development Initiative Operated by MLB and the MLBPA, In Partnership with USA Baseball, And Sponsored by the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation
ATLANTA, GA – Following an unforgettable experience at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Fla., 44 of the 130 participants in the 2019 Hank Aaron Invitational have been selected to play in a showcase game at SunTrust Park, home of the Atlanta Braves, on Saturday, August 3rd. In addition to this contest, the Braves host the high school-age players (expected graduation classes of 2020, 2021 & 2022) to a variety of cultural activities at various landmarks important to the era of the civil rights movement in Atlanta.
The Hank Aaron Invitational (formerly known as the Elite Development Invitational), operated by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), in partnership with USA Baseball, and sponsored by the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation, is the premier, diversity-focused development experience for high school age baseball players in the United States. Nearly 90% of all alumni of the event, which began in July 2015, who have graduated high school from 2016-2019 are either playing baseball in college or at the professional level in Club Minor League system.
The roster for Saturday’s game includes 44 players, an homage to the number that the legendary Aaron wore throughout his Hall of Fame career, from 15 States and Puerto Rico. Five players from the Atlanta area have returned home to play in front of their friends and family. The rosters will be broken down into two teams – “Team Royster and “Team Waller” – named after their respective managers, Jerry Royster (former Braves infielder, 1976-1984 & 1988, and former Major League manager & coach) and Tye Waller (former Major League third baseman, coach & executive). The teams will be coached by a variety of former Major League players, including former Braves (Marquis Grissom, Marvin Freeman, Brian Hunter, Michael Tucker) and former All-Stars & World Series Champions (Tom “Flash” Gordon & Chris Chambliss). **Attached separately is the roster for the Hank Aaron Invitational Showcase Game at SunTrust Park**
The Hank Aaron Invitational Showcase Game is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. ET, with gates opening for batting practice at 8:00 a.m. ET. Tickets are available for purchase at $5 at box office windows at SunTrust or online at Braves.com/HankAaronWeek. All proceeds from the sales of tickets will be donated to the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation, which funded operations for the Hank Aaron Invitational.
Media wishing to access the Hank Aaron Invitational must send requests to: steven.arocho@mlb.com or kara.zoellner@braves.com.
In addition to the games, the Braves hosted the players for a civil rights tour of Atlanta featuring the home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., historic Ebenezer Baptist Church and The King Center on Friday, August 2nd. The tour concluded with lunch at Paschal’s Atlanta Restaurant, the 'meeting place' for some of the most notable entertainers, politicians, and business people during the civil rights movement. The athletes heard from Paschal’s historian and then from Ambassador Andrew Young and Hank Aaron, who spoke about his professional baseball and business career following his playing days. The athletes had the opportunity to ask questions of both gentlemen.
While meeting Aaron is the pinnacle of the young men’s experiences at the Hank Aaron Invitational, they, along with the total of 130 players from the developmental portion of the event, were treated to an unforgettable opportunity on and off the field at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex this past week. In addition to being instructed by dozens of former Major League players, managers and coaches, they also heard from a notable list of guests from throughout the baseball community, including the following:
Leadership –
Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr.
MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark
Hall of Famers –
Ken Griffey Jr.
Andre Dawson
Representatives of the History of the Game –
Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Sharon Robinson, Daughter of Jackie Robinson
College Coaches –
Tim Corbin, Head Coach of the NCAA World Series Champion Vanderbilt Commodores
Erik Bakich, Head Coach of the Michigan Wolverines (NCAA W.S. runner-up)
Carlos James, Head Coach of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions (HBCU)
Johnny Hernandez, Head Coach of the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats
The development portion of the Hank Aaron Invitational featured 130 amateur players of diverse backgrounds, all of whom are expected to be part of the graduating High School Classes of 2020, 2021 and 2022. The experience was similar to a Major League “Spring Training” program geared toward providing elite training and instruction opportunities from former Major League players and coaches. The players for each week were selected by a combination of the following groups: MLB Youth Academy network, Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program, MLB, the MLBPA, USA Baseball, the Buck O’Neil Scouts Association, MLB Scouts, and individual active and former players.
Former MLB players, including former All-Stars, and coaches will serve as Hank Aaron Invitational instructors, including:
• Jerry Manuel
• Eric Davis
• Tom "Flash" Gordon
• Marquis Grissom
• Mike Scioscia
• Reggie Smith
• Pat Mahomes
• LaTroy Hawkins
• Dmitri Young
• Juan Samuel
• Marvin Freeman
• Junior Spivey
• Homer Bush
• Kenny Hill
• Reggie Williams
• Lou Collier
• Lenny Webster
• Jeff Reboulet
• David Gallagher
• Brian Hunter
• Michael Tucker
• Willie Banks
• Luis Alicea
• Courtney Duncan
• Dwight Smith
• Bobby Ramos
• Jerry Royster
• Antonio Grissom
• Carlos Muñoz
• Tye Waller
ABOUT THE HANK AARON INVITATIONAL:
The Hank Aaron Invitational was created and developed 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. Twenty-one alumni of this event were selected in the June 2019 MLB Draft, including 2nd round picks Nasim Nuñez (Miami Marlins) and Kyren Paris (Los Angeles Angels), and 3rd round pick Mike Harris (Atlanta Braves).
In total, more than 200 alumni are currently either playing baseball professionally in Club Minor League systems or on the collegiate level. This equates to nearly 90% of the participants who graduated high school in 2016-2019.
Additional notable alumni include Hunter Greene (2015 EDI, 1st round, CIN in 2017), Osiris Johnson (2016-2017 EDI, 2nd round, MIA in 2018), Taj Bradley (2016-2017 EDI, 5th round, TB in 2018), Lawrence Butler (2016-2017 EDI, 6th round, OAK in 2018), Cabera Weaver (2016 EDI, 7th round, CWS in 2018) and Bryce Bush (2017 EDI, 33rd round, CWS in 2018).