WATCH: Former MLB star Jose Canseco shows he hasn't lost his power swing by casually demolishing a ball at 2023 Cactus Jack HBCU Classic
Jose Canseco, one half of the "Bash Brothers," still has it. He was spotted at Minute Maid Park in Houston for the 2023 Cactus Jack HBCU Classic. The tournament celebrates historically black colleges and universities, pitting them in a baseball tournament to kick off the college baseball season.
The teams in attendance include: Prairie View A&M, Texas Southern University, Southern University, Grambling State University, Jackson State and Mississippi Valley State University. Rapper Travis Scott was at the event and hosted a celebrity softball tournament. There was even a home run derby.
José Canseco still making balls disappear
(via @Djread98) https://t.co/XpMUBPNylc
Juiced or not, he can still hit the long ball. The ball was absolutely crushed, you can't deny that. I know there are a few MLB teams that could use that type of power going into the new season.
Alongside Canseco were other former MLB players. The list included Nick Swisher and Gary Sheffield, two all-time baseball greats. NFL great Terrell Owens was even in attendance as he's a big supporter of the HBCU initiatives.
Swisher and Canseco competed in a home run derby. Both players hit 10 home runs apiece, which came down to a sudden-death playoff. Swisher ended up falling short to Canseco in the end.
Nick Swisher and Jose Canseco each hit 10 bombs in 2:00 during the HR Derby, so it went to a sudden death playoff.
Swisher came up short. @JoseCanseco did not. https://t.co/sGqG1lqksQ
There's nothing quite as entertaining as a home run derby. It was surely a treat for all those in attendance to watch one of the greatest hitters ever still doing what he does best.
The fall of Jose Canseco was tough to watch
"Swagger on steroids: Canseco, Jose" - Lil Wayne. Most of the time, when a rapper like Lil Wayne mentions you in a song, you've made it, but that's not the case with Canseco. He's better known for his use of steroids than anything else.
Jose Canseco hasn't played in a meaningful game since 2001, when he was a member of the Chicago White Sox. Since then, he has tried his luck in a variety of baseball leagues, both semi-pro and amateur leagues.
He's also tried his hand at mixed martial arts and boxing. In 2009, he traveled to Japan for his first and only MMA fight. He would go on to lose to Hong Man Choi by TKO. His most recent bout saw him boxing Billy Football from Barstool Sports. Canseco was knocked out in the first round.
It's been a roller-coaster ride for someone who once had baseball fans in his grasp.