SEATTLE -- MLB’s last All-Star Week in Seattle was in 2001. During that time, the All-Star Legacy Initiative renovated Lower Woodland Park. Twenty-two years later, the park hosted the All-Star Commissioner's Cup and Jennie Finch Classic.
The tournament features 11 youth baseball and softball teams from the MLB Youth Academies and Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (Nike RBI) from around the country and Puerto Rico. In addition to the tournament, the players get to soak in all the All-Star festivities in Seattle from the HBCU Swingman Classic all the way to the T-Mobile Home Run Derby.
The RBI program not only provides an opportunity for kids from an underrepresented community to play baseball, but it also focuses on the educational standpoint with SAT/ACT preparation, ensuring all of its participants graduate high school and providing resources to help with the recruiting process.
“I think it's a great job by MLB,” Compton coach Lorenzo Bray said. “Especially to have that MLB name behind our kids. It makes them feel special, and the way they're playing the games, it's up to the MLB standard. So I think it's good that they came and reached out to my community.”
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred made an appearance at the event and spoke to the participants on the baseball and softball side. He emphasized the importance of the programs. While the tournaments are a one-weekend event, the work that goes into helping these kids on and off the field happens year-round.
“This is always one of the very best parts of it,” Manfred said. “We feel the effort we've made in the youth space is really important for the growth of the game overall but even more important, the diversity.
“It's important for young people to take away the values that are embedded in the game. The teamwork and fun that they have, and to see for those who aspire what they can achieve in our sport because it's a great celebration.”
Reds RBI head coach Roosevelt Barnes also serves as the head coach at Wilberforce University, a Historically Black College in Ohio. Wilberforce fielded its first baseball team in 80 years. Barnes focused for years on bringing back baseball to the school and he was able to accomplish that with the help of the Reds, who allow them to use their youth facility. Barnes added that his goal at Wilberforce is to build his rosters with players from the RBI and MLB academies. He wants to set a standard of what HBCUs across the nation can do to grow the sport and offer a platform of success for their communities.
“Some of our next greatest baseball stars are in those communities,” said Barnes. “A lot of times, those kids don't have the opportunities to play on a lot of the big circuits. So anytime there's an alternate venue for these guys to play and be seen, it's always a good thing.”