MLB showcases Braves again in Little League Classic
NEW YORK – Major League Baseball is once again showcasing the Braves in one of its tentpole events this weekend.
The Braves will face the Brewers in the Little League Classic on Sunday evening, one of MLB’s top annual showcases.The game will be played at Historic Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
This marks the second consecutive year the Braves will play in a unique game after they opposed the Reds in the first MLB Speedway Classic in Bristol, Tennessee, last summer.
MLB relishes the chance to include the Braves in its crown-jewel games. The Braves are one of the most popular and influential franchises in the sport and eager to participate in special events.
“It’s one of our franchises that really has a strong presence,” MLB Senior Vice President of Global Events and Operations Jeremiah Yolkut told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Braves Country is quite large, and there’s a fan base that goes beyond just the states known as Braves Country. When we host these kinds of events, they want to be part of it. They want to be involved in the creative things we do around the events to make it where people can be engaged in it.
“We saw it last year when we were in Atlanta (for the All-Star Game). We saw it in Bristol, they wanted to lean into it and they obviously lean into NASCAR quite a bit. So when we brought this idea for them to be in this game – they haven’t played in this one yet – I think they jumped at the opportunity.”
It’s the Braves’ first time playing in the Little League Classic. Before Bristol, their previous special event was facing the Marlins in the Fort Bragg Game in July 2016 in North Carolina. But the Braves have been at the forefront of MLB over the past decade, having made seven postseason appearances, winning the 2021 World Series and hosting the All-Star Game last summer.
There are numerous factors in how teams are selected for showcases, but in this case, there’s an emphasis on teams that excel in their youth community work. The Braves have been among the leaders in that area.
“Developing youth is really going to lead to teams continuing to have a strong presence. Not only in people coming to the ballpark, but also in who is going to be on the field,” Yolkut said. “The Braves get that and they do that 365 (days a year) in the community. It’s a team we’re happy to partner with in special events and they’re incredibly easy to work with and we’re very familiar with them, whether it’s the (2021) World Series, the (2025) All-Star Game, Bristol, we’re regularly talking Braves in our office and we’re happy to have them here.”
The Braves and Brewers will also celebrate the life and legacy of Hank Aaron pregame. Aaron, the civil rights activist and Hall of Famer, played for both franchises.
As part of the “Keep Swinging” campaign, select Little League World Series players will read portions of the Keep Swinging Pledge before the game. There will also be a video of Braves and Brewers players reading the pledge.
Additionally, MLB partnered with artist Henry X Pieces to create an interactive mural for the little leaguers on Saturday and Sunday. The piece, according to MLB, brings the “Keep Swinging” mantra to life visually and kids will be able to add personally to the artwork.
The Braves and Brewers opened their series Friday in Milwaukee. They’re two of the top three teams in the National League, battling to secure two of the first-round byes.
“They happen to be very relevant teams in the standings, that’s not something we can predict 18 months out, but certainly that will also play into it,” Yolkut said. “This game counts. It’s a regular season game in a 3,000-seat ballpark and it’ll make a difference in the standings for both these teams.”