For just the second time, Arizona State will hold its Alumni/Celebrity Softball Game this upcoming Sunday, February 1, starting at 10:00 AM MST at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. And now that we know who will be participating in the game, it'll be must watch TV.
As part of Arizona State's Spring Kickoff Weekend, in anticipation of the start of both baseball and softball, multiple Sun Devil alumni and celebrities will return to the Valley for a day of friendly competition. Split into two teams, the rosters were unveiled on Wednesday:
Team Arizona State
- Cam Skattebo
- Spencer Torkelson
- Ryan Burr
- Jake Sheffield
- Michael Benjamin
- Chip Gosewich
- Mickey Mitchell
- Kyle Williams
- Amber Freeman
- Laura Bradley
- Blake Stauffer
- Mackenna Marsh
- Justin Pollnow
- Zach Lind
Skattebo is arguably the biggest name this year. The superstar running back led the Sun Devils to the College Football Playoff last year and was taking the NFL by storm as a rookie before an injury ended his season.
Torkelson is the biggest name among active baseball players. The first overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, Torkelson has hit 30+ homers in each of the last two years for the Detroit Tigers. Mickey Mitchell was a standout basketball player early in Bobby Hurley's tenure and is now part of his coaching staff.
The first Kyle Williams in this game is the one who played wide receiver for the Sun Devils from 2006 to 2009. A hometown hero, Williams was once named Arizona Player of the Year as a standout at Chaparral High School. He played in the NFL for the 49ers, Jets, and Broncos as well.
By far the most rad member of the roster is Zach Lind, the drummer for local rock band Jimmy Eat World. In addition to shredding on the drums, Lind's father actually played for legendary Arizona State baseball head coach Bobby Winkles.
Team Sun Devils
- JJ Van Niel
- Kyle Dodd
- Dallas Escobedo
- Aaron Simpson
- Jeff Larish
- Rudy Burgess
- Jake Borup
- Kyle Williams
- Mike Jones
- Breanna Peterson
- Kyle Luckham
- Doug Schutt
- Eric Sim
- Cole Tucker
Current volleyball head coach JJ Van Niel heads up Team Sun Devils. Hired three years ago, Van Niel has been wildly successful, winning the Big 12 each of the last two years. He's the fastest coach in program history to reach 50 wins and has produced eight All-Americans.
Kyle Dodd was a standout basketball player back in the 90's and early 2000's, leading the Pac 10 in assist-to-turnover ratio during his time on the team. Dodd has remained integral to Sun Devil basketball, serving as a color analyst for games since 2011.
Jake Borup is a former Sun Devil pitcher who made headlines following a nearly fatal heart attack suffered in 2023 that led to a heart transplant. A former Pac 12 Honorable Mention pitcher, Borup co-hosted the Legends of Packard podcast as well. This will be his first time back on the diamond since his transplant.
The second Kyle Williams was also a wide receiver, playing during the Todd Graham and Herm Edwards eras. A reliable slot receiver, Williams ultimately stepped away from football to attend medical school back in 2022, with plans to become an orthopedic surgeon.
Cole Tucker is a hometown hero who starred at Mountain Pointe High School before becoming a Sun Devil. He was later a first round pick in the 2014 MLB Draft, but Tucker is perhaps best known now for who he's married to: superstar actor and singer Vanessa Hudgens.
Now Tucker, and the rest of Team Sun Devils, will have to get their heads in the game.