Overview

• DeMarkus Smiley’s one-out RBI groundout in the eighth inning capped a three-run rally that carried the National League to a 7-4 victory on Friday night.
• Fifty Division I players from 16 HBCUs were showcased during MLB All-Star Week in a nationally televised game broadcast on MLB Network, MLB.TV, MLB.com and the MLB app.
• Heavy attendance by MLB scouts underlined the event’s role in boosting draft visibility and professional prospects for overlooked HBCU talent.
• Cultural celebrations included performances by the Georgia Mass Band, the Spelman College Glee Club, Divine Nine step routines and a national anthem by Avery Sunshine.
• Founder Ken Griffey Jr. used his position as senior adviser to Commissioner Rob Manfred to press for broader scouting practices that reach beyond data-driven pipelines.