MLB Desert Invitational announces schedule, Tennessee games
Following months of anticipation, Major League Baseball has officially announced an expansion (and schedule) for the annual Arizona-based tournament designed to celebrate the traditional start of the college baseball season, the MLB Desert Invitational.
The tournament formerly known as the ‘MLB4’ will include six teams this year and will be hosted in three locations throughout the Greater Phoenix area on the weekend of February 17-19 with three exclusive telecasts live on the MLB Network and streamed on MLB.com.
Tennessee, Arizona, Michigan State, Fresno State, San Diego and Grand Canyon comprise the showcase and games will be played at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick (spring training home of the Diamondbacks and Rockies), Sloan Park (spring training park of the Cubs) and Grand Canyon University.
The Vols will take on Arizona Friday, Feb. 17 at 8pm ET at Salt River Fields at Talking Sticks. On Saturday, Tennessee will play the showcase’s only game at Grand Canyon University against the Antelopes at 8pm ET. Both of Friday and Saturday’s games will be televised on the MLB Network and streamed on MLB.com.
LOOK: Tennessee Baseball’s complete 2023 schedule
Sunday, the Vols head back to Salt River Fields at Talking Sticks for a 3pm ET contest against San Diego. Though not listed below, the contest will be streamed at MLB.com. The tournament will feature seven of MLB Pipeline’s Top-100 draft prospects, including Tennessee’s Chase Dollander (No. 2) and Maui Ahuna (No. 22).
Come and watch Tennessee kickoff the 2023 season by purchasing tickets here. Children 12 and under are free of charge.
Complete Tournament Schedule (all times ET)
Feb. 17, 1 p.m.: Michigan St. vs. Fresno St. (Sloan Park)
Feb. 17, 3 p.m.: Grand Canyon vs. San Diego (SRF at Talking Stick) +
Feb. 17, 8 p.m.: Arizona vs. Tennessee (SRF at Talking Stick) +
Feb. 18, 3 p.m.: Fresno St. vs. Arizona (Sloan Park)
Feb. 18, 8 p.m.: Tennessee vs. Grand Canyon (Grand Canyon University) +
Feb. 18, 8 p.m.: San Diego vs. Michigan St. (Sloan Park)
Feb. 19, 3 p.m.: Fresno St. vs. Grand Canyon (Sloan Park)
Feb. 19, 3 p.m.: San Diego vs. Tennessee (SRF at Talking Stick)
Feb. 19, 8 p.m.: Michigan St. vs. Arizona (SRF at Talking Stick)
+ MLB Network/MLB.com Broadcast
MLB Pipeline Top-100 Draft Prospects in the Tournament
• No. 2 – Chase Dollander – RHP – Tennessee
• No. 9 – Jacob Wilson – SS – Grand Canyon
• No. 22 – Maui Ahuna – SS Tennessee
• No. 44 – Mitch Jebb – SS – Michigan State
• No. 51 – Chase Davis – OF – Arizona
• No. 71 – T.J. Nichols – RHP – Arizona
• No. 88 – Homer Bush Jr – Grand Canyon
