2026 MLBx All-Star 3-on-3 Rosters, Format and Preview for Celebrity Softball Game Replacement

MLB presents a new 3-on-3, co-ed game as part of the 2026 All-Star festivities, replacing the Celebrity Softball Game that had been a staple of the weekend since 2001.

What does the new event entail and who makes up the four teams competing for the inaugural victory?

Find out in this preview of the Sunday, July 12, event, which will air live on NBC and Peacock.

Rosters

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Team Howard

Ryan Howard (Philadelphia Phillies legend)

Alyssa Brito (utility player, Carolina Blaze)

Jordan Mailata (tackle, Philadelphia Eagles

Team Rollins

Jimmy Rollins (Phillies legend)

Tiare Jennings (middle infielder, Texas Volts)

Terrell Owens (Hall of Fame wide receiver)

Team Victorino

Shane Victorino (Phillies legend)

Rachel Garcia (pitcher, Texas Volts)

Eladjo Carrion (rapper)

Atlanta Braves

Andruw Jones (Hall of Famer, Braves legend)

Nijaree Canady (pitcher, Texas Volts)

Antonio Cipriano (actor/singer)

Format

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Per MLB.com, the inaugural MLBx All-Star 3-on-3 is a "co-ed, three-versus-three baseball competition that puts equal emphasis on offense and defense. It's a three-inning affair, with each player getting an opportunity to hit and field. It is designed to provide a mix of power, athleticism and strategy, giving baseball fans fun, high-paced action to enjoy."

Four teams will compete in a knockout bracket of three games: two semifinals and one championship.

Length of Games

Each game will last three innings and approximately 30 minutes

Scoring

• Home run: one point
• Catch: one point
• Hitting the ball through a target located in center field: bonus points

At Bats

• Each team will hit from a custom-built stage
• Defensive team positions players in the outfield to try and catch the ball
• After two minutes, the teams switch sides. This continues until every player has had an at-bat.

Hot Streaks

Each player can call a "hot streak" during their at-bat, which would double the points for home runs and catches.

Tag Ins

In the final 30 seconds of each player's at-bat, they can "tag in" a teammate. That teammate would then step in for them in an attempt to up their point totals.

Centerfield Target

"Batters can earn bonus points by hitting balls cleanly through a target suspended above the outfield fence, rewarding both power and precision," per MLB.

Preview

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Previously, this game was a celebrity-heavy softball game that was fun for what it was, but had clearly run its course in recent years, with the watering down of the celebrity roster and a desire for the biggest celebrity to be baseball itself.

While there are celebrities still in play here, with past and present Eagles stars and others from the world of film and music, the emphasis is still on the sport.

The inclusion of stars from the AUSL allows that league to step onto the grand stage of All-Star Weekend, standing alongside their MLB counterparts.

Philadelphia is a proud sports town, with an incredibly passionate fan base, for better or worse. The city will turn out and support its legends, all of whom delivered championships to their respective organizations.

How the league presents the new twists on the old game will determine whether this is the start of a new tradition or a one-and-done, to be replaced by a new concept or the old softball attraction.