Penn Hills shortstop Dontae Giddens shows improvement at Hank aaron Invitational

Dontae Giddens practices before the 2025 season at Penn Hills' Yuhas McGinley Field. Giddens recently participated in the Hank Aaron Invitational at the Jackie Robinson Complex in Vero Beach, Fla. Josh Rizzo/Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges

Dontae Giddens' return from the Hank Aaron Invitational was a proud one. The Penn Hills shortstop found an easy way to show his improvement year-over-year.

Last summer, Giddens was unable to produce a hit in eight at-bats while he was at the Jackie Robinson Complex in Vero Beach, Fla. When Giddens went back earlier this month, he hit .667 (6-of-9).

"It was great to see that improvement," Giddens said.

The Hank Aaron Invitational was founded in 2015 and is the premier diversity-focused baseball development experience for high school-aged baseball players in the United States. The four-day event mixes on-field development and games in addition to providing opportunities for learning and a chance to hear speakers talk about what baseball is like at the next level.

Current MLB players who came through the program including Taj Bradley, Lawrence Butler, Justin Crawford, Hunter Greene and Michael Harris II, among others. There are more than 30 current minor leaguers and more than 150 college players who have played in the event.

"Being selected for the Hank Aaron Invitational for the second straight year was an honor," Giddens said. "It showed me the work I've put in is paying off. Competing against some of the best players in the country pushed me to get better and gave me a lot of confidence."

Giddens helped Penn Hills halt a 34-game losing streak last spring when the Indians beat Carrick in April. Penn Hills struggled with numbers and finished 1-15.

Giddens hopes to continue to build his profile during his senior year.

"Being part of an event like this means a lot because it gives me the chance to compete at a high level and continue growing as a player," Giddens said. "My goal is to play Division I baseball, keep developing my game, and make an impact wherever I end up."

Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo.