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PINE BLUFF, Ark. — Three University of Arkansas Pine Bluff baseball players have earned a spot on one of the game’s biggest stages.
Jalen Porter, Aaron Grant, and Kenney Fabian were selected for the fourth annual HBCU Swingman Classic.
The event, created by Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., showcases the top 50 Division I HBCU baseball players.
“Happy for my family and me. We shared the moment together,” Porter said.
“Kinda surprised I got it because this year I didn’t feel like I did as good as I did last year. But when I saw that I was selected for it and everybody’s congratulating me,” Fabian added.
For the players, it’s the kind of honor their younger selves could only imagine.
“He would be happy for me too,” Porter said. “I feel like he would forget quickly because the younger me had a bad memory. But he’d be ecstatic.”
“The little Kenny wanted to be a part of a D1 team as well as make it to the MLB, which hopefully we end up getting there,” Fabian said. “But I think he’d be really happy that I am here right now.”
After all the trials and tribulations, this stage is the reward for it all, and UAPB head coach Logan Stout just wants them to embrace it.
“I hope they have fun. It’s such an amazing venue, an amazing event,” Stout said. “Then ultimately, I just hope they will be themselves. You know, it’s one thing we tell our players all the time: just be yourself. Everybody else is already taken. Just be yourself. Have fun and go do you, man.”
For these players, having fun means taking in every part of the experience.
“Meeting the legends, Porter said. “Yeah, that should be fun.”
“Excited to play with my teammates again, especially one last time,” Fabian said, “especially since it’s me and Jalen’s last year anyway.”
The HBCU Swingman Classic will take place at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT.
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