BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2025 All-SWAC Baseball teams and individual award winners on Tuesday evening. The all-conference honors were voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.   
Southern’s Cardell Thibodeaux was named Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year while Jackson State’s Eric Elliott was tabbed Pitcher of the Year. Alabama State’s Juan Cruz and Bethune-Cookman’s Andrey Martinez were both tabbed Co-Hitter of the Year.
 
Bethune-Cookman’s Jean Carlos Zambrano was named Relief Pitcher of the Year and Florida A&M’s Garrett Workman was selected as the Freshman of the Year. Bethune-Cookman’s Jonathan Hernandez was named Coach of the Year rounding out the list of individual award winners.

Thibodeaux was a key contributor for the Southern Jaguars this season. He played in 46 games this season tallying 77 hits and 18 homeruns to lead his team in both categories. Thibodeaux is currently ranked third in the NCAA in batting average (.438).

Elliot was impressive throughout the duration of the season serving as the Tigers top pitcher on the mound. He tallied six wins this season while amassing a 2.54 ERA in conference games. He ranks first in the league in strikeouts per inning and second in total strikeouts this season.
 
Cruz helped lead Alabama State at the plate this season while ranking first on his team in hits (99), RBIs (66), and batting average (.416). He also led the NCAA in total hits and ranks third nationally in hits per game.
 
Martinez led the conference in total homeruns this season (19) and ranked 19^th in the NCAA in that same category. He tallied 63 hits during regular season competition and compiled a .352 batting average to go along with 59 RBIs.
 
Zambrano was a key reliever for a Bethune-Cookman Wildcats pitching staff that led the league in ERA. He made a total of 18 appearances this season for B-CU tallying six wins and two saves along with a 3.38 ERA in league action.
 
Workman had an impressive debut season for the Florida A&M Rattlers on the mound. He made 14 appearances during the regular season and was credited with eight wins to go along with a 2.92 ERA in league action.

Hernandez led the Wildcats to a SWAC Baseball Regular Season title as B-CU went 24-9 in conference play. It marked Bethune-Cookman’s first SWAC title in the sport of baseball as the Wildcats also claimed the No. 1 seed at the upcoming SWAC Baseball Tournament.  

The complete listing of all-conference selections and individual awards winners can be found below.

2025 All-SWAC Baseball Team and Individual Awards
 
Coach of the Year
Jonathan Hernandez, Bethune-Cookman
 
Player of the Year
Cardell Thibodeaux, Southern
 
Co-Hitter of the Year
Juan Cruz, Alabama State
 
Co-Hitter of the Year
Andrey Martinez, Bethune-Cookman
 
Pitcher of the Year
Eric Elliott, Jackson State
 
Relief Pitcher of the Year
Jean Carlos Zambrano, Bethune-Cookman
 
Freshman of the Year
Garrett Workman, Florida A&M
 
Newcomer of the Year
Cardell Thibodeaux, Southern
 
All-SWAC Baseball First Team
C – Broedy Poppell, Florida A&M
1B – Juan Cruz, Alabama State
2B – Jesus Vanegas, Bethune-Cookman
3B – Jay Campbell, Florida A&M
SS – Bryce Hughes, Texas Southern
DH – Taj Bates, Southern
OF – Cardell Thibodeaux, Southern
OF – Andrey Martinez, Bethune-Cookman
OF – Kameron Douglas, Alabama State
SP – Eric Elliott, Jackson State
SP – Kenney Fabian, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
RP – Jean Carlos Zambrano, Bethune-Cookman

All-SWAC Baseball Second Team
C – Chris Marcellus, Grambling State
1B – Wilbert Perez, Jackson State
2B – Alex Espaillat, Alabama State
3B – KJ White, Southern
SS – Jeter Polledo, Bethune-Cookman
DH – Damian Garcia, Texas Southern
OF – Trey Rutledge, Alabama A&M
OF – Darryl Lee, Bethune-Cookman
OF – Jordan McCladdie, Jackson State
SP- Jorhan Laboy, Alabama State
SP – Edwin Sanchez, Bethune-Cookman
SP – Nick Luckett, Southern
RP – Ethan Bates, Grambling State
RP- Peyton Huff, Southern

About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
 
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.

Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.
 
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at www.swac.org.