
Hank Aaron Invitational
The Hank Aaron Invitational, powered by the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation (YDF) in partnership with USA Baseball, is the premier diversity-focused baseball development experience for high school-age baseball players in the United States. Major League Baseball and the Players Association co-operate the event. The unique amateur development event aims to get high school-age players, with diverse backgrounds, to the next levels of the game. Every year 200-250 select participants have an unforgettable experience at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex (JRTC) in Vero Beach, Florida. Participants receive training, instruction and mentoring from former Major League Players, coaches and baseball executives. The invitational includes special guest presentations and addresses, including YDF’s Ambassador and Hall of Famer Ken Griffey, Jr., Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred, and Executive Director of the MLBPA Tony Clark. The best 44 players – a nod to the legendary Hank Aaron’s uniform number – from the second week of the Hank Aaron Invitational are selected to play in a special showcase game at a Major League park and participate in a weekend of cultural activities.
Over the last four MLB Drafts, more than 40 alumni of this event were selected including 2022 1st round picks Termarr Johnson (Pittsburgh Pirates), Elijah Green (Washington Nationals), Justin Crawford (Philadelphia Phillies) and Cam Collier (Cincinnati Reds).
In total, more than 200 alumni of the program are playing baseball professionally in Club Minor League systems or on the collegiate levels.
For any questions, please email [email protected].
Former MLB and MiLB players and coaches that have previously coached HAI
- Garvin Alston
- Marlon Anderson
- Fernando Arroyo
- Dusty Baker
- Homer Bush
- John Cangelosi
- Endy Chavez
- Delino DeShields
- Bob Didier
- Mike Easler
- Cecil Fielder
- George Foster
- Wayne Gomes
- Tom Gordon
- Edward Guzman
- Mickey Hatcher
- LaTroy Hawkins
- Trenidad Hubbard
- Ken Landreaux
- Leon Lee
- Ed Lovelace
- Anthony Manuel
- Gary Matthews, Sr.
- Darrell Miller
- Reid Nichols
- Rob Picciolo
- Bobby Ramos
- Willie Randolph
- Jamie Quirk
- Juan Samuel
- Sergio Santos
- Robert Sasser
- Dwight Smith
- Lee Smith
- Chris Speier
- Lester Strode
- Kerron Walker
- Maury Wills
College coaches that have previously coached HAI
- Erik Bakich – Head Baseball Coach, Clemson University
- Tim Corbin – Head Baseball Coach, Vanderbilt University
- Bretton Richardson – Assistant Baseball Coach, Florida A&M University
- Auntwan Riggins – Head Baseball Coach, Prairie View A&M University
- Edwin Thompson – Head Baseball Coach, Georgetown University
2022 HAI Coaches
2022 HAI Highlights










HAI in the News
- August 12, 2022: Athlete of the Week: Josh Bell (OrangeObserver.com)
- August 11, 2022: The state of Black baseball slowly shifting from acceptance to belonging (Andscape)
- August 11, 2022: A Rose in bloom: Brother Rice’s Zion Rose highlights ‘honestly amazing’ summer with RBI double and triple at Dodger Stadium (Chicago Tribune)
- August 10, 2022: 4 of the top 5 picks in this year’s MLB draft were Black - the result of minority development and other grassroots programs (Chicago Tribune)
- August 6, 2022: Gracia caps big baseball year by playing in Hank Aaron Invitational in Atlanta (Shore Sports Network)
- August 2, 2022: Palmetto's Trey Lawrence shines at Hank Aaron Invitational Showcase (Herald Tribune)
- August 1, 2022: Third annual MLB Hank Aaron Invitational brings 250 high school baseball players of diverse backgrounds to showcase their talent (Black Enterprise)
- July 28, 2022: 'A dream come true': Legends impart lessons at Hank Aaron Invitational (MLB.com)
- July 26, 2022: Hank Aaron Invitational cultivating leadership behind plate (MLB.com)
- July 23, 2022: MLB Tour players show off at the Hank Aaron Invitational (MLB.com)
- July 22, 2022: Lessons go beyond the diamond at Aaron Invitational (MLB.com)