CLEVELAND — Major League Baseball has filled its final two roster spots and announced the “Cleveland” and “World” team lineups for the 2019 MLB All-Star Celebrity Softball Game, which will be played at Progressive Field on Sunday, July 7.
“Team Cleveland” will be headlined by several notable athletes, including former Cleveland Indians Carlos Baerga, Jim Thome, Kenny Lofton and Travis Hafner, former Cleveland Browns All-Pro left tackle Joe Thomas, Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith, record-setting UFC fighter Stipe Miocic and WWE superstar Mike “The Miz” Mizanin.
Along with Miocic and Mizanin, both of who are native Clevelanders, there is a distinct Northeast Ohio feel to the team.
Team Cleveland
Miocic
Mizanin
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (Cleveland Heights)
Television personality Drew Carey (Rhodes High School in Old Brooklyn)
Dr. Oz (Cleveland)
Sports broadcaster Allie LaForce (Vermilion/Ohio University)
Rapper Machine Gun Kelly (Cleveland)
Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Simone Biles (Columbus)
Rapper/producer Quavo
“Brooklyn 99” actress Stephanie Beatriz
“The World” roster is bolstered by Olympic champion Jennie Finch, Academy Award-winning actor Jamie Fox, “Avengers” star Anthony Mackie and World Series champions Bernie Williams and Ryan Howard.
Team World
Finch
Fox
Mackie
Williams
Howard
Anuel AA and Daddy Yankee (Reggaeton artists)
Former NFL player-turned-television personality Colton Underwood,
“Orange is the New Black” star Dascha Polanco
Fashion/sneaker designer Jerry Lorenzo
MTV Challenge participant Johnny Bananas
“New Girl” actor Max Greenfield
“Stranger Things” actress Priah Ferguson
“Star” actor Quincy
Comedian Scott Rogowsky
Mizanin is focused on representing his hometown on the national stage when he takes the field for the Celebrity Softball Game
During the 2018 MLB Legends and Celebrity All-Star Softball Game, “The Miz” went two for two with an RBI double to right field during an eight-run second inning for the American League team. Mizanin went on to score on a two-run single from Anthony Beyrouti (Starwood winner).
Later in the game, Mizanin hit a two-run double to left-center field in the top of the fourth inning.
Defensively, Mizanin helped initiate a double play while patrolling the outfield in the bottom of the fourth inning, and then, pitched a 1-2-3 frame in the fifth. Mizanin got Finch to pop out, Washington Wizards point guard John Wall to foul out and Hall of Fame first baseman Andre Dawson to fly out to end the fifth inning.
For his efforts, Mizanin was named the Most Valuable Player of the game, and he plans on adding to the trophy case this year.
“Your reigning MVP accepts, and I’m going back-to-back MVP. And that’s a promise,” Mizanin said in a Twitter video accepting the invitation to be a part of this year’s competition.
“So, to all you legends and celebrities, you’re on notice because it’s (Cleveland) vs. The World.”
