Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
The Stars All Had Game
When the National League starters were announced and it was time for Atlanta Braves right-fielder Ronald Acuna, Jr. to take his place amongst the best players in baseball, the volume of the cheers inside Truist Park could be heard from Cobb County to Summer Hill. Batting second behind Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, who singled to lead off the game, Acuna, Jr. had an infield single in his first at-bat. He would score on a double by Arizona Diamondback Ketel Marte.
Acuna, Jr. struck out during his second at-bat to start the third inning.
Chicago Cubs centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong doubled in his first at-bat. The first-time all-star is in his second year in the Majors and is receiving National League MVP hype. Pittsburgh Pirates two-time all-star Paul Skenes, the National League starter, struck out two of the three hitters he faced in his inning of work.
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh continued his strong All-Star Week. A day after winning the Home Run Derby, Raleigh singled in his first at-bat in the All-Star Game. Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan came in in the fourth inning for the American League and struck out San Diego Padres star Manny Machado and Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker during a one-two-three inning of work.
Braves first baseman Matt Olson came into the game in the seventh inning.
Pulled from the game after four innings and two at-bats (1-2, with a run), Acuna, Jr. addressed the media outside of the National League clubhouse in the bowels of Truist Park. Wearing a black vest without a shirt underneath, his platinum jewelry sparkled and matched the pin on his left pocket. The Braves star looked the part. All of the All-Stars looked the part in their own right tonight.
HBCU ball players got the 2025 MLB All-Star Week Started
The HBCU Swingman Classic kicked things off on Friday, July 11. HBCU sports fans from all over the South walked around The Battery, enjoyed food and drinks before taking their seats inside Truist Park for the annual HBCU baseball all-star game.
Sponsored by Major League Baseball, the HBCU Swingman Classic is named after baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. and brings the best HBCU baseball talent to the site of the Midsummer Classic every year. With Atlanta being the host site of this year’s HBCU Swingman Classic, many HBCU alums were at Truist Park for the game. Compared to regular crowds at Truist Park for Atlanta Braves games, this Friday had an entirely different look, feel, and energy.
“This is unbelievable. HBCUs are taking over baseball,” said Morehouse College Athletic Director, former Morehouse basketball standout and NBA guard Harold Ellis.
Former Morehouse College baseball player and Atlanta Public Schools employee Thomas Scott and his former teammate Ryan Christian, the head baseball coach and associate athletic director at Therrell High School, attended the game to soak up the baseball action and HBCU vibes.
“This is a fantastic way to highlight HBCU athletes, especially baseball players,” Scott said. “This is a long way from Perkerson Park.”
Scott proudly wore a Morehouse Maroon Tigers baseball jersey and said, “This is game-worn.”
Atlanta Braves draft for need up the middle
The 2025 Major League Baseball Draft, which allows all of the 30 clubs to draft amateur players from high school and college ranks, took place at the Coca-Cola Roxy in The Battery on Sunday, July 13.
The Atlanta Braves wasted no time answering a need during the first two rounds of the MLB Draft. With the 22nd overall selection, the Braves picked Tate Southisene, a shortstop out of Basic High School in Henderson, Nevada. With the 60th overall selection in the second round, Atlanta picked Florida State University shortstop Alex Lodise.
In the third round, with the 96th pick, the Braves selected another shortstop, Cody Miller. Miller played around the infield at East Tennessee State University, including at shortstop.
Home Runs Light the Night Sky
The Home Run Derby took place on Monday night, July 14, at Truist Park. Seven of the best power hitters in Major League Baseball put on a show for thousands of baseball fans as part of the All-Star weekend festivities.
The derby began with fireworks and Pat McAfee. Yes, that Pat McAfee. Major League Baseball broke out all of the stops on Monday night, including having McAfee announce the Home Run Derby participants like it was a WWE match.
Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson, a three-time MLB All-Star and Atlanta native, was awarded the opportunity to hit last. The cheers from the crowd when his name was announced as the seventh participant were the loudest of the evening. Olson failed to advance into the semifinals, but had a couple of moments where his 15 home runs felt like it was going to be a lot more. Olson had a streak of five home runs between his ninth and 15th dingers that got the crowd going.
