MLB, Nationals announce schedule of 2018 All-Star events

WASHINGTON D.C. -- Major League Baseball and the Washington Nationals today released the 2018 All-Star Week youth, community initiatives & cultural schedule, which includes All-Star Legacy project ceremonies that will be unveiled throughout the week, starting Tuesday, July 10th and lasting through Tuesday, July 17th - the day of the 89th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Nationals Park.
The following also includes information regarding the first-ever "All-Star Armed Services Classic presented by T-Mobile," MLB's Environmental & Sustainability programs, a special Stand Up To Cancer moment at Nationals Park to celebrate the organization's 10th anniversary as well as visits by special young fans that are receiving an All-Star experience through Make-A-Wish, the Breaking Barriers: In Sports, In Life program and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
As a complement to the Midsummer celebration of Baseball and the Washington Nationals, the various All-Star Week events and project renovations seek to impact the lives of youth as well as demonstrate the game's respect for the military. The effort includes community improvement projects designed to leave a lasting impact throughout the Greater Washington community and beyond. These include youth baseball field renovation and facility projects - including a youth baseball complex in Northern Virginia named after Nationals outfielder and All-Star Ambassador Bryce Harper, new and renovated youth & family centers, a mobile dental unit and a major renovation of a USO depot. Former Nationals players will participate in the different All-Star community projects and youth events.
MLB Charities, the Washington Nationals and the Nationals Dream Foundation have donated approximately $5 million in celebration of the 2018 Midsummer Classic, a significant portion of which has gone toward the All-Star Legacy initiative. The donation also will support national charitable partners of Major League Baseball, including Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Jackie Robinson Foundation and Stand Up To Cancer, among others. A portion of the funds will be raised from Gatorade All-Star Workout Day on Monday, July 16th. Since 1997, MLB and host All-Star Clubs have donated more than $85 million through the All-Star Legacy initiative.
Below is a brief, chronological schedule of MLB All-Star Week Community & Youth Activities:
(A description of the All-Star Week projects and events accompanies the release in a separate attachment)
*Indicates an All-Star Legacy Project
Tuesday, July 10th
• *2:00 p.m. - All-Star Teen Room, Playground, Computer Lab & Community Room at SOME Spring Road (Washington D.C.)
Wednesday, July 11th
• *3:00 p.m. - All-Star Pavilion at Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy (Washington D.C.)
Thursday, July 12th
• 10:00 a.m. - Negro Leagues Tribute Mural Dedication at Ben's Chili Bowl (Washington D.C.)
• *11:00 a.m. - USO-Metro All-Star Depot at Fort Belvoir (Fairfax County, Va.)
• 6:00 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies of PLAY BALL Park, the All-Star Commissioner's Cup & Jennie Finch Classic (The Yards Park, Washington D.C.)
Friday, July 13th
• *10:30 a.m. - All-Star Mobile Dental Unit with Children's National (Washington D.C.)
• 1:30 p.m. - All-Star "Greening" Volunteer Event (Richard England Clubhouse #14, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, Washington D.C.)
• 3:00 p.m. - Miracle League-Challenger Game (Nationals Park, Washington D.C.)
• 7:00 p.m. - All-Star Armed Services Classic presented by T-Mobile (Nationals Park, Washington D.C.)
• Various Times - All-Star Commissioner's Cup & Jennie Finch Classic Tournament Games (Washington D.C.)
Saturday, July 14th
• 8:30 a.m. - MLB Jr. Home Run Derby National Finals (Nationals Park, Washington D.C.)
• *10:00 a.m. - Nationals All-Star Field Dedication at Walker Mill Regional Park (Prince George's County, Md.)
• 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. - "Culture + Code" Series at Blind Whino (Washington D.C.)
• 5:30 p.m. - Make-A-Wish Welcome Reception (Renaissance Washington D.C.)
• Various Times - All-Star Commissioner's Cup & Jennie Finch Classic Tournament Games (Washington D.C.)
Sunday, July 15th
• 11:00 a.m. - High School Home Run Derby Semifinals (Nationals Park, Washington D.C.)
• Various Times - All-Star Commissioner's Cup & Jennie Finch Classic Playoff Games (Washington D.C.)
Monday, July 16th
• 8:00 a.m. - All-Star PLAY BALL Tour of Library of Congress (Washington D.C.)
• *11:00 a.m. - Bryce Harper All-Star Complex (Herndon, Va.)
• 12:00 p.m. - Championship Games for the All-Star Commissioner's Cup & Jennie Finch Classic at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy (Washington D.C.)
• 12:30 p.m. - Scotts MLB Pitch, Hit & Run National Finals (Nationals Park, Washington D.C.)
Tuesday, July 17th
• *10:30 a.m. - Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington - All-Star Teen Center at Richard England Clubhouse #14 (Washington D.C.)
Additional Cause-Related, Youth & Cultural Activities and Details
• Stand Up To Cancer Moment: During the 89th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, MLB, Mastercard and FOX will encourage fans in attendance in Nationals Park to join them, as well as All-Star Game players, coaches, managers and umpires, in another extraordinary LIVE moment to stand together with Stand Up To Cancer in the fight against cancer. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the start of Stand Up To Cancer, which counts MLB as a founding donor of the groundbreaking initiative to end cancer.
• "Culture + Code": Taking place at the iconic Blind Whino, MLB's inaugural "Culture + Code" event will provide a day of panel discussions, guest speakers and fireside chats on topics that highlight entrepreneurship, esports, culture and the arts thriving within our Nation's Capital. With the intent of highlighting the diversity of Washington D.C. and expanding the exposure to Major League Baseball, Culture + Code will provide a platform of discussion topics most relevant to future leaders and fans of our game. Topics will include fashion, business, arts (e.g., the off-Broadway production of "Toni Stone," the first woman to play in the Negro Leagues) and esports with players of the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game playing in a Fortnite Derby.
• All-Star High School Home Run Derby: On Sunday, July 15th, Major League Baseball will host eight High School players from various communities in the United States for the "All-Star High School Home Run Derby," an annual national home run hitting contest held during All-Star Week. The contest will stream LIVE on MLB.com starting at 11:00 a.m. ET, and will include the following participants (all of whom are rising seniors):
Hunter Barco - The Bolles School, Jacksonville, Fla.
Tyler Callihan - Providence High School, Neptune Beach, Fla.
Emanuel Dean - Servite High School, Anaheim, Calif. (NOTE: participant of 2018 Breakthrough Series event in Kansas City, Mo.)
Michael Dixon II - Berkeley High School, Oakland, Calif.
Riley Greene - Hagerty High School, Oviedo, Fla.
Rece Hinds - IMG Academy, Valparaiso, Fla.
Hayden Travinski - Airline High School, Shreveport, La.
Bobby Witt, Jr. - Colleyville Heritage High School, Colleyville, Texas
1. Following the semifinals contest at Nationals Park on Sunday, the top two finalists will compete for the All-Star High School Home Run Derby Championship during a break of the T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Nationals Park on Monday, July 16th.
2. Participating players are selected in conjunction with MLB, USA Baseball and MLB International. Each player will receive one pair of Franklin Batting Gloves, a pair of Under Armour Cleats, a New Era All-Star Game Batting Practice Cap, a Majestic All-Star Game Batting Practice Jersey, a pair of Majestic Baseball Pants and other minor equipment.
3. Four of the eight participants in the 2017 All-Star High School Home Run Derby were selected in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft.
• Breaking Barriers Grand Prize Winner: Selihom Kidane, a rising 6th grader from Charlotte, N.C., will be accompanied by Sharon Robinson - daughter of Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson - as an honored guest at Nationals Park prior to the T-Mobile Home Run Derby on Monday, July 16th. Selihom is one of two grand prize winners of the 2018 Breaking Barriers: In Sports, In Life essay contest (Grades 4-6) after writing about her and her brother's courageous 11-month journey to escape war-torn Eritrea, Africa, and reunite with their mother in the United States, when they were five and 11 years old, respectively. She was selected from thousands of essays submitted by students in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. The Breaking Barriers educational program is designed to teach students in grades four through nine about the obstacles faced by Jackie Robinson as he broke baseball's color barrier in 1947.
• Make-A-Wish: Five young fans will be a part of All-Star Week festivities, including all events at Nationals Park, as special guests of Major League Baseball. They include: Alex, 15 from Fairfax, Va.; Daron, 15 from Nashville, Tenn.; Ely, 12 from Charlottesville, Va.; Joseph, 15 from Pleasanton, Calif.; Kyle, 19 from Howell, Mich.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America - Youth of the Year and All-Star PLAY BALL Series: Boys & Girls Clubs of America Youth of the Year Carlos Polanco, 19, from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Clifton, New Jersey, will be a part of the pregame ceremonies for the 89th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard. Carlos is a student at Dartmouth College.
• All-Star PLAY BALL Series - Washington D.C-area Boys & Girls Clubs will field teams of 10-12 year-olds to compete in the fourth annual All-Star PLAY BALL Series. First round matches will take place on Friday, July 13th at the FanFest Diamond. Finals will be held at Play Ball Park on Saturday, July 14th.
• Summer Slugger - Summer Slugger, Major League Baseball's digital education initiative powered by EverFi, will highlight baseball-themed math and literacy games at GEICO All-Star FanFest at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Summer Slugger helps prevent summer learning loss by having kids ages 8-12 practice their educational skills in a fun, gamified way, all while earning progress-based rewards and completing challenges. Kids and parents can visit the Summer Slugger booth to demo the program and sign up to participate this summer. Summer Slugger is active at 20 locations throughout the Greater Washington region.
MLB Environmental Efforts:
As part of Major League Baseball's ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, MLB has ensured that the 89th Midsummer Classic and 2018 All-Star Week incorporate environmentally friendly features and activities. Efforts include:
• Major League Baseball's Green Teams will appear at ballpark and community events throughout the week. In partnership with Georgetown University and George Washington University, the program incorporates a college course around sustainability, the collection of recyclables at multiple All-Star Week events, and the education of fans in Nationals Park and the Washington D.C. community on positive environmental practices.
• More than 100 volunteers will be in service to the community at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington, Richard England Clubhouse #14, to include All-Star Green Team members, youth softball/baseball players in the All-Star Commissioner's Cup and Jennie Finch Classic, Boys & Girls Clubs youth, MLB & Nationals employees, and representatives from MLB partners Bank of America and Chevrolet. The event will not only allow for hands-on activities (e.g., bench repair, landscaping, waste removal, painting, etc.), but will also incorporate environmental education in the form of All-Star Green Team college students working with youth to increase knowledge around environmental issues and best practices around taking action.
• Throughout the week, untouched food from event and ballpark production will be donated to D.C. Central Kitchen for those in need.
• Additional recycling bins will be added around Nationals Park and other activation areas throughout the week.
• The environmental programs of MLB and its Clubs will be showcased in an exhibit wall at GEICO All-Star FanFest and at the Centerfield Plaza at Nationals Park
• MLB will offset the environmental carbon footprint of player travel, to and from Washington D.C., as well as offsetting energy and water used at Nationals Park by purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates and making contributions to restore endangered watersheds.
• MLB has invited National Geographic to participate in All-Star Week by promoting their "Planet or Plastic?" campaign. "Planet or Plastic?" is their multi-year effort to raise awareness about the global plastic trash crisis and reduce the amount of single-use plastic that enters the world's oceans. Fans can join National Geographic in this effort by taking the pledge at NationalGeographic.com/planetorplastic.
• MLB has partnered with Broccoli City to donate energy kits/LED bulbs to reduce utility bills for low-income residents.
• Fans attending All-Star Week activities will be encouraged to walk to the game using the All-Star Green Path presented by Kaiser Permanente. The MLB Ballpark app will host a detailed map of the green path, showing the best walking routes to and from Metro stations, and hotels in the D.C. area. In addition, Kaiser Permanente has placed "Take Steps Toward a Better Health" footprints at GEICO All-Star FanFest and along the Nationals Park concourse to remind fans of the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
• Major League Baseball is working with the Council for Responsible Sport to become a certified social and environmentally responsible event. Through the many initiatives taking place at Nationals Park and in the community, MLB aims to make the 2018 All-Star Game the first professional team-sports event to achieve this formal recognition for responsible practices.
MLB All-Star Week includes the MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Nationals Park (July 17th), Gatorade All-Star Workout Day featuring the T-Mobile Home Run Derby (July 16th), All-Star Sunday featuring the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game and All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game (July 15th), All-Star FanFest at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center (July 13th-17th) and PLAY BALL Park in The Yards at Parcel A (July 13th-17th), plus a lineup of additional events taking place around the city. The 89th Midsummer Classic will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 180 countries. FOX Deportes will provide Spanish language coverage in the United States, while ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network, MLB.com and Sirius XM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, please visit AllStarGame.com and follow @AllStarGame on social media.