Norfolk State Spartans Shine in Swingman Classic | Virginia Beach News

Five Norfolk State Spartans are headed to MLB All-Star week for the Ken Griffey Jr. Swingman Classic, showcasing HBCU talent on a Major League stage. Outfielders Justin Journette (making his third appearance) and Thomas Ealey, infielder Jayden Israel, and pitchers Ethan Blakeney and Yasseel Samboy are set to compete in Philadelphia. Ealey, who led the team with a .370 average and 35 stolen bases, got the call while in Italy — his coach surprised him by saying he’d be playing at the Phillies’ stadium. His family celebrated together. After a stunning turnaround under first-year coach M.L. Morgan — from 4-38 to 20 wins — the Spartans are proving doubters wrong. The event airs live Friday at 7 PM on MLB Network. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/b024e8bd150deed6