Norfolk State University junior catcher Manny Jackson will compete in the HBCU Swingman Classic on July 7 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, and the contest will air live on the MLB Network.
“I’m really proud of Manny,” Norfolk State head baseball coach Keith Shumate said. “He is an up-and-coming star in this game. He is an even better person, and I am so happy for the recognition he is getting. Although many fans didn’t get to see a healthy Manny Jackson, he is a dangerous player who can beat you in five ways: with his hitting, his power, his glove, his arm, and his speed. Manny is becoming a tremendous leader and he comes to beat you.”
Jackson, who came to Norfolk State from CCBC Essex, played in 31 games, starting 26 for the Green and Gold during the 2023 season. The Coral Gables, Fla. native batted .333 with 35 hits, including five doubles, three home runs and one triple, along with scoring 16 runs and driving in 15. He was 3-for-3 in stolen base attempts and defensively logged a .976 fielding percentage.
Jackson will be coached in the HBCU Swingman Classic by former New York Mets and Chicago White Sox manager Jerry Manuel. MLB Network will air the HBCU Swingman Classic, beginning at 10:30 p.m. (eastern) as Harold Reynolds, Dave Sims and Symone Stanley will call the action.
The HBCU Swingman Classic is presented by T-Mobile & powered by the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation and will feature a game between baseball student-athletes from Division I programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The inaugural philanthropic and educational event, which will center around an “All-Star” Game, will be held during 2023 MLB All-Star Week at the home of the Seattle Mariners. Major League Baseball and the Players Association co-operate the event.
Tickets for the HBCU Swingman Classic presented by T-Mobile, which includes a post-game firework show at T-Mobile Park, are now on-sale at AllStarGame.com. Proceeds from the sale of each $10 ticket for GA seating will benefit the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation, 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.
Courtesy of Norfolk State Athletic Department