Southern’s Radcliffe shines at HBCU Swingman Classic in Philadelphia

The fourth annual HBCU Swingman Classic, which Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. founded, took place on Friday at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Phillies and the 2026 MLB All-Star Game.

This event featured 50 select players representing Historically Black Colleges and Universities around the country.

The American League Team, managed by former MLB player Rickie Weeks, scored three runs in the first inning, two in the third, and one in the seventh, securing a 6-1 victory over the National League, which was managed by former Phillies shortstop and 2007 league MVP Jimmy Rollins.

Southern University senior OF Jacoby Radcliffe, who had two stolen bases and a run scored, was named the game’s MVP.

Radcliffe, who batted .277 and added 39 stolen bases in 2026 for Southern University, wasn’t sure he would get selected to this game, but he got the call, and he was grateful for the opportunity.

“​I ​don’t ​know ​when ​my ​last ​game ​is ​going ​to ​be, ​and ​to ​be ​playing ​in ​such ​a ​prestigious ​ballpark ​like ​this, ​it ​was ​just ​phenomenal,” Radcliffe said after the game. ​”​I ​told ​my ​parents. ​I ​was ​like, ​’I’m ​just ​blessed.’ ​When ​I ​first ​got ​the ​email, ​ ​​​I ​was ​gonna ​play ​in ​the ​swing(HBCU Classic), ​I ​didn’t ​think ​I ​was ​because ​I ​didn’t ​have ​a ​year ​like ​I ​had ​my ​junior ​year, and I ​was ​just ​nervous, ​like, ​hope ​I ​get ​a ​shot. ​I ​hope ​I ​get ​a ​shot. ​My ​dad ​just ​kept ​telling ​me, ​’You ​will ​get ​a ​shot, ​you ​will ​get ​a ​chance,’ so ​I’m ​just ​grateful.”

That is what the HBCU Swingman Classic is all about, providing a crucial stage for players to impress MLB scouts, coaches, and managers before Saturday’s draft, creating a sense of excitement and hope for those involved. 

Players like Radcliffe and others took advantage of this big stage, and hopefully for them, they will get an opportunity to continue to play the game that they love on the next level.