By Dorothy J. Gentry
Sports Editor
Photos by Ricky Flo
![Sen. Royce West speaks to HBCU baseball players during the Suit Up Experience luncheon](https://i0.wp.com/texasmetronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Sen.-Royce-West-speaks-to-HBCU-baseball-players-during-the-Suit-Up-Experience-luncheon.jpeg?w=880&ssl=1)
The past week has been one for the ages for 50 HBCU baseball players/student athletes.
![Mark Cuban's Suit Up](https://i0.wp.com/texasmetronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Mark-Cubans-Suit-Up-Experience-with-HBCU-Baseball-Players.jpeg?w=880&ssl=1)
After participating in practices and various community service events, the athletes then played in the 2024 HBCU Swingman Classic at Globe Life Field, as part of MLB’s All-Star Week festivities in Arlington.
![Sen. Royce West chats with HBCU baseball players](https://i0.wp.com/texasmetronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Sen.-Royce-West-chats-with-HBCU-baseball-players.jpeg?w=880&ssl=1)
The next day the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation, partnered with Mark Cuban Heroes Baseball Center for The Suit Up Experience. The Experience featured student athletes receiving head-to-toe care as well as suits, ties, shoes, socks and haircuts. Students also enjoyed a luncheon where they heard from State Sen. Royce West and Jean Lee Batrus, executive director of the MLB Youth Development Foundation.
![](https://i0.wp.com/texasmetronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Sen.-Royce-West-and-Jean-Lee-Batrus-MLB-MLBPA-Youth-Development-Foundation-Executive-Director.jpeg?w=880&ssl=1)
The young men also took part in a number of workshops, covering everything from etiquette and grooming tips, wardrobe styling, and shoeshine and tie-tying tutorials, to financial literacy, career readiness, healthy living, mental health and more.
![Dressing HBCU baseball players](https://i0.wp.com/texasmetronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Dressing-HBCU-baseball-players.jpeg?w=880&ssl=1)
“Whether or not these young men pursue careers on the baseball field, The Suit Up Experience is just another way to spotlight and develop our HBCU student-athletes into major league citizens,” said Batrus.
![HBCU baseball players learning to tie and care for their ties](https://i0.wp.com/texasmetronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/HBCU-baseball-players-learning-to-tie-and-care-for-their-ties.jpeg?w=880&ssl=1)
![HBCU baseball players with their new clothing](https://i0.wp.com/texasmetronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/HBCU-baseball-players-with-their-new-clothing.jpeg?w=880&ssl=1)
Dorothy Gentry is an award-winning journalist, PR pro and educator. A University of North Texas alum, she is the Sports Editor for Texas Metro News, Garland Journal and I Messenger.