Sluggball, the new baseball-inspired competition built around the art of hitting a baseball, will host the 2026 Sluggball All-Star Classic on Saturday, Aug. 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Tommy Lasorda Field at Meiklejohn Stadium at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
The inaugural event will feature retired Philadelphia Phillies and Major League Baseball Alumni competing in a fast-paced exhibition designed to introduce fans to Sluggball. The event will be presented as a special on NBC Sports Regional Networks, with multiple encores on NBC Sports Philadelphia, NBC Sports Boston, NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports California.
Fans can watch the event in person and purchase tickets now at PlaySluggball.com. Proceeds will benefit The Darren Daulton Foundation and the Ruben Amaro Sr. Foundation.
Former Phillies World Series MVP Cole Hamels is scheduled to hit and compete alongside Phillies Wall of Famer Mike Lieberthal, Mickey Morandini, Kevin Stocker, Milt Thompson, Kyle Kendrick, Domonic Brown, and Sluggball co-founder Ruben Amaro Jr.
World Series champion manager Charlie Manuel and Phillies legend Larry Bowa are scheduled to serve as opposing managers for the competition.
Sluggball is a 4-on-4 hitting competition created for anyone who has ever played baseball and wants to compete. There is no fielding and no baserunning. Instead, players step into the batter’s box, take their swings, and compete through a fast-moving format built around situational hitting and strategic scoring.
Each hitter receives eight swings or 35 seconds per at-bat while aiming for designated parts of the field, including the pull side, up the middle, opposite field, and around the horn. The game is designed to be quick, easy to understand, and accessible for players of varying ages and skill levels. The Sluggball All-Star Classic will feature two teams of Phillies and MLB alumni.
“Sluggball brings the pure joy of stepping into the batter’s box and competing,” said Amaro, who co-founded Sluggball with a group of Philadelphia-area investors, including his brother David Amaro. “Our format creates that opportunity to enjoy the best part of the game while keeping the camaraderie, strategy, and competitiveness that make it so special. The response to Sluggball so far has been incredible across all ages, from current high school players to guys in their 60s. I can’t wait to see the MLB alumni step back in the batter’s box on Aug. 8.”
“This is not batting practice – it’s a competitive game built around the part of baseball everyone wants to do the most – and that’s hit,” Bowa said. “Whether someone played professionally, in college, in high school, or just grew up loving the game, Sluggball gives them an outlet. They get to step into the box, swing the bat, compete with friends, and, for the retired players, feel like ballplayers again.”
Sluggball will also host its Philly Fall Series in September, giving local players the chance to form teams, compete on Friday nights, and experience the format firsthand. Follow @Sluggball on social media and check PlaySluggball.com for updates.
Additional participants and details for the Sluggball All-Star Classic will be announced in the coming months. Player rosters are subject to change.
About Sluggball
Sluggball is a small sided, short form version of baseball built entirely around the art of hitting. The 4-v-4 format combines situational hitting with live scoring, and data tracking – no fielding or base running required. Co-founders include Ruben Amaro Jr., David Amaro, Michael Gossner, Gregory Olenski Sr., Greg Olenski Jr., and Ken Byck. Advisors include Kenny Lofton, six-time MLB All-Star. Brand collaborators include the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA), and Victus Sports.
About the Darren Daulton Foundation
The Darren Daulton Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to providing financial assistance to those suffering from primary malignant brain tumors. Money raised by the Foundation is used to help families who are financially struggling due to the diagnosis and effects of brain cancer.
About the Ruben Amaro Sr. Foundation
The Ruben Amaro Sr Foundation aims to provide college scholarships as well as make competitive travel and collegiate showcase opportunities accessible to ALL players and families through sponsorship initiatives that alleviate financial burdens, ensuring that talent, not financial capacity, becomes the primary factor in accessing these opportunities.