All photos by Jared Blais/MLB Photos.
A busy summer continued for Long Beach Poly catcher Caleb Safotu this past weekend as he attended and competed at Major League Baseball’s Hank Aaron Invitational at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Florida.
The annual event brings together 250 high school players from across the country for elite-level instruction from former Major League players and coaches. Safotu capped off the long, hot weekend by earning the Rob “Peach” Picciolo Sportsmanship Award and an invitation to the prestigious ’44 Game,’ featuring the top 44 players from Week 2 of the Invitational. He’ll compete in the 2026 Hank Aaron Invitational Showcase Game on Wednesday at historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama.
“It was an honor getting invited after hearing about all the great players that came through here, and being surrounded by all the talent was just so motivating,” Safotu said of the Invitational. “The insights and tips from the coaches about your mindset or your hitting and catching mechanics, that’s information that doesn’t have a price on it. It’s a once in a lifetime experience and I’m just so grateful and honored to have this opportunity.”
The four-day event featured long days, with Safotu often waking up at 5:30 am and not wrapping up for the day until 9:30 pm. Each day combined skill development, position-specific drills, exhibition games, and presentations from former Major League players and coaches at one of the best development centers in the country.
Among the speakers, Safotu said he especially enjoyed hearing from Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., who shared advice on the mental side of the game, as well as former Cincinnati Reds star Eric Davis, who offered hitting tips and insights from his 17-year MLB career.
“He was talking to us about the mindset that we have to have when going up to the plate, and I feel like hearing it in person and knowing what he’s done in the game, that’s advice that you can’t really get,” Safotu said of Davis. “We’re able to look them eye-to-eye and ask questions, and they can coach you up in person. They’ve been on that big stage and had great success in the game, so it’s very eye-opening to hear about the next level and what it takes to get there.”
Also present at the event was Long Beach Poly alum Chris Gwynn, who shared lessons and coaching points from his 10-year Major League career, primarily spent with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1990s. This year’s Hank Aaron Invitational marked Gwynn’s fourth year as a coach, and he said he enjoys the opportunity to give back to the next generation of players.
“It brings kids from all over the country and they learn a lot about themselves here,” Gwynn said. “Since I’ve been here, we’ve had a couple of Long Beach guys, and now Caleb’s here and I’m sure there’s some more kids that have been here in the past. It’s a great opportunity to give back and make sure that the kids get the right information and to be there with them to watch them go through and help enhance their game and keep them moving in the right direction.”
While the high school season is still months away, Long Beach Poly is preparing for a new era under head coach and alum Davis Towne. Safotu is already looking forward to bringing what he learned in Vero Beach back to the Jackrabbits, hoping the experience he gained over the summer will help elevate the entire team.
“I think that being in these positions to get myself better and then share the information I get from all these events with my teammates to hopefully pick up our team—that’s something that can go a long way,” Safotu said. “That’s the whole goal—not only to be a great individual, but to be a great team as a whole.”
