SEATTLE, Wash. | Omar Melendez, Jamal George, Randy Flores, Ian Matos, Luis Rodriguez, Ali Lapread, and Corey King will represent Alabama State University at the inaugural HBCU Swingman Classic in July.
 
Along with the HBCU Swingman Classic, Seattle will host the MLB All-Star Game, Home Run Derby, All-Star Futures Game, Celebrity Softball Game and the MLB Draft between Friday, July 7 and Tuesday, July 11.
 
Student-athletes will be selected by a committee that includes Griffey Jr. as well as representatives from MLB and MLBPA and scouts.Griffey Jr. played 13 seasons with the Mariners, winning one American League MVP and being named an All-Star 11 times.
 
All seven players were Alabama State's historic season that saw the Hornets set a school record with 41 wins. The Hornets became the fifth team SWAC history to win 40-plus games in a season and the first team since 2002-03. ASU's 41-18 record carried a .695 winning percentage, ranking 22nd in the nation. 
 
Melendez was named the SWAC Pitcher of the Year and First-Team All-SWAC, posting a perfect 12-0 record. He led the SWAC in wins (12), ERA (2.52) and complete games (4). Melendez ranked third in the SWAC in innings pitched (93.0), fourth in strikeouts (96) and fifth in opponent batting average (.253), and was recently named a Finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and was selected the SWAC Pitcher of the Week four times. 
 
Jamal George was named the SWAC's Freshman of the Year and earned Second-Team All-SWAC honors. George started 57 games behind the plate posted a .284 average with 10 doubles, six home runs and 34 RBI.
 
Ian Matos was named Second-Team All-SWAC as a centerfielder, leading the conference with 20 doubles. Matos tied for third with 66 runs scored, fourth with 78 hits and 44 walks, while his .482 on base percentage was sixth in the league. Matos finished the year with a .355 average, nine home runs and 47 RBI while slugging .595.
 
Randy Flores earned First-Team All-SWAC honors at second base. He led the SWAC with 38 stolen bases and ranked 2nd in the SWAC (10th NCAA) as the toughest to strikeout at 15.2. The juniors' 52 runs scored ranked fifth and his 82 hits were second in the conference. Flores finished the year with a .336 average, 11 doubles, three triples, 10 home runs and 54 RBI.
 
Luis Rodriguez ranked second in the SWAC with six saves and fourth with 27 appearances. He posted 2-1 record with a 4.41 ERA and made two starts with midweek wins over Jacksonville State and UAB.
 
Ali Lapread played in 42 games with 35 starts in right field, batting .371 (7th SWAC) with 10 doubles, 13 home runs (T4th SWAC) and 39 RBI. He led the SWAC with a .736 slugging percentage and had a .460 on base percentage and six stolen bases. 
 
King was named the SWAC Preseason Player of the Year after he was named the 2022 SWAC Player of the Year and First-Team All-SWAC. The senior overcame a slow start to finish the season with a.306 average with 15 doubles, seven home runs, and 50 RBI. 
 
The event will become an annual one during MLB's All-Star Week, and feature 50 Division I baseball players from historically black colleges and universities from across the country competing in an "All-Star Game" format.