Team Victorino wins the first-ever MLBx: All-Star 3-on-3 competition during MLB All-Star weekend

It was like they never left.

On Sunday, MLB All-Star Week brought a new event to Philadelphia — MLBx: 3-on-3. The inaugural four-team tournament featured three former Phillies greats: Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, and Jimmy Rollins. Each served as a captain for a three-person squad. The players donned their past Phillies uniforms.

Read more The Southeast Asian Market in FDR Park sustained heavy damage from Saturday’s storm

“Just to see everybody out here, to see this place almost packed,” Victorino said. “I couldn’t ask for anything more from this city. It was the one thing someone always asks: ‘What do you want to see out of this city this weekend?’ I said, ‘I want to see how all the fans are going to show up.’”

The fourth team was led by Atlanta Braves legend and 2026 Hall of Fame inductee Andruw Jones, who was booed heavily by the Philly faithful before the event began.

A professional softball player from the Athletes Unlimited Softball League joined each team alongside a non-baseball celebrity. Notably, former Eagles wideout Terrell Owens played for Team Rollins while current Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata starred for Howard.

Three three-inning games — two semifinals and a championship — were played on a miniature diamond setup at center field. Ultimately, it was Team Victorino that came out on top, defeating Team Howard, 48-39.

Rachel Garcia, who plays for the AUSL’s Texas Voltz, was named the event’s most valuable player.

Along with winning the inaugural event, Victorino now has bragging rights over his former teammates.

“Just another thing, another notch,” Victorino said with a laugh. “I got one more ring than them, one more trophy with an ‘X’ on it. I’m gonna give it to them till the day I can’t.”

Before the event began, it was described on the public address as “a Home Run Derby with a twist.”

Each inning saw a player on each team take a two-minute at-bat. Meanwhile, outfielders looked to rob any would-be home runs. Points were awarded primarily from home runs and defensive catches, but a team could also gain an extra point by hitting a ball through a “target zone” above the outfield fence. Additionally, whenever a batter got in a groove, he or she could activate a “hot streak” by pushing a button next to home plate. When activated, home runs counted for two-points a pop.

The first game of the tournament saw Team Howard face Team Rollins, meaning the game’s two Eagles — Mailata and Owens — also matched up. In the battle of the Birds, Mailata beat out Owens as Team Howard advanced to the final.

Read more Pa. lawmakers have approved a $50.8 billion state budget, delaying addressing key issues

There once was a time where Owens was largely shunned by Philadelphia fans following his dramatic exit from the Eagles in 2005. It appears time heals all wounds though. Owens, who played baseball in high school, received one of the larger rounds of applause when his name was first called over the stadium’s public address.

Meanwhile, Eagles fan-favorite Mailata, traded in his pads for a baseball jersey — which he noted was much more comfortable. Ultimately, the Australian native did not come away with a win in the championship game. However, he did accomplish his one goal.

“Was I the worst performing person today?” he asked reporters following the event.

One responded “No,” pointing out that Mailata had hit more home runs than the Hall of Fame-bound Jones.

“That was my goal – to not be the worst,” Mailata said. “So I can go home, even though we fell short.”

Along with launching a new event, the MLB looked to showcase some of the brightest stars of the AUSL. The MLB is a major investor in the startup league.

Fans who stuck around following the Futures Game should now know the names Alyssa Brito and Rachel Garcia.

For Team Howard, Brito slammed 16 home runs during her first at-bat against Team Rollins in the semifinals. Brito, who plays for the AUSL’s Carolina Blaze, scored 24 of her team’s 36 total points in the win.

“Shout out to Brito Bombs, man,” Mailata said, offering a nickname for his teammate. “Shoutout Brito Bombs. … She carried our team today.”

In the next game, Garcia hit the event’s only walk-off home run to lift Team Victorino over Jones’ squad. Garcia carried that momentum into the event’s final matchup, scoring a game-high 18 total at-bat points to secure Team Victorino the championship win.

“Being on this stage has been just very humbling,” Garcia said. “Especially because softball, for us, is just still growing. We’re still trying to get the recognition that we want and we deserve. Just being able to put softball on the map.”

Added Brito: “I think it’s incredible that All Star Weekend wanted us to be in this main event that everyone wanted to come to. It just goes to show that if you give women a platform, we’re going to use it and we’re going to take advantage of it.”

Read more Zack Wheeler tosses another gem to defeat Tarik Skubal and Tigers going into the All-Star break