BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2026 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.
 
Bethune-Cookman’s Jose Fernandez was named Player of the Year while Southern’s K.J. White earned Hitter of the Year honors. Bethune-Cookman ace Edwin Sanchez was selected as Pitcher of the Year, and Alabama State standout Camden Matthews was named Relief Pitcher of the Year.
 
Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Aaron Grant claimed Freshman of the Year recognition after a strong debut campaign, while Alabama State’s Miguel Oropeza was named Newcomer of the Year. Bethune-Cookman head coach Jonathan Hernandez earned Coach of the Year honors after leading the Wildcats to the SWAC regular season championship.
 
Bethune-Cookman led all programs with eight total All-SWAC selections, including a league-best five first team honorees. Alabama State followed with five overall selections while Southern, Florida A&M, Texas Southern, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff each placed two players on the all-conference teams. Jackson State, Prairie View A&M, and Grambling State also earned representation on the postseason teams.
 
The Wildcats were heavily represented on the first team with Maikol Lucena at catcher, Jose Fernandez at first base, Andrey Martinez at third base, Michael Rodriguez in the outfield, and Edwin Sanchez as a starting pitcher. Alabama State placed three players on the first team with Miguel Oropeza, Jorhan Laboy, and Camden Matthews earning recognition.
 
Southern’s K.J. White highlighted the first team infield selections at second base after a standout offensive season, while Texas Southern’s Jonathan Trejo earned honors at shortstop. Florida A&M’s Jackson McKenzie was selected as the designated hitter, and Jackson State’s Tyree Reed rounded out the first team outfield selections.
 
The second team featured additional standout performers from across the conference including Alabama State catcher Trey Callaway, Southern first baseman Jaylon Lucky, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff freshman Aaron Grant at second base. Prairie View A&M’s Ryland Duson and Bethune-Cookman’s Erick Almonte completed the infield selections.
 
Texas Southern’s Byron Robinson earned second team honors at designated hitter while Bethune-Cookman’s Darryl Lee, Alabama State’s Niguel Jenkins, and Grambling State’s Cameron Hill were recognized in the outfield. Florida A&M’s Caleb Granger and Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Kenney Fabian earned second team starting pitcher honors while Bethune-Cookman’s Pablo Torres was selected as the second team relief pitcher.
 
Coach of the Year
Bethune-Cookman head coach Jonathan Hernandez guided the Wildcats to one of the most successful seasons in program history during the 2026 campaign, earning Southwestern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors after leading the team to a dominant regular season performance.
 
Under Hernandez’s leadership, Bethune-Cookman captured the SWAC regular season championship while establishing itself as one of the top teams in the conference from start to finish. The Wildcats consistently excelled on both sides of the ball, combining one of the league’s top offenses with a strong pitching staff throughout the season.
 
Bethune-Cookman posted a conference-best record during SWAC play while also reaching a program milestone in overall victories. The Wildcats were especially dominant in league series competition, consistently winning key matchups and maintaining momentum throughout the season.
 
Player of the Year
Bethune-Cookman standout Jose Fernandez put together one of the top offensive seasons in the Southwestern Athletic Conference during the 2026 campaign, earning SWAC Player of the Year honors after serving as a key piece of the Wildcats’ championship run.
 
He emerged as one of the league’s most dangerous bats, finishing the season with a .360 batting average, 14 doubles, 13 home runs, 56 RBIs, and a 1.092 OPS. Fernandez also recorded 115 total bases while consistently producing in the middle of the Wildcats lineup.
 
Hitter of the Year
Southern’s K.J. White established himself as one of the premier players in the Southwestern Athletic Conference during the 2026 baseball season, putting together a dominant campaign that earned him recognition as one of the league’s top offensive performers.
 
White was a consistent force in the Jaguars lineup throughout the season, combining power, run production, and timely hitting while helping Southern remain among the top teams in the SWAC standings. He finished the year batting .415 with 1 home run, 33 RBIs, six doubles, and a slugging percentage of .486, ranking among the conference leaders in multiple offensive categories.

Pitcher of the Year
Bethune-Cookman ace Edwin Sanchez turned in one of the most dominant pitching performances in the Southwestern Athletic Conference during the 2026 season, earning SWAC Pitcher of the Year honors after leading the Wildcats’ pitching staff throughout their championship campaign.
 
Sanchez emerged as one of the league’s most reliable starters, consistently delivering quality outings and giving Bethune-Cookman a strong presence on the mound each weekend. He finished the season with a 12-1 record and ranked among the conference leaders in earned run average, strikeouts, and innings pitched while helping guide the Wildcats to a SWAC regular season title.
 
Relief Pitcher of the Year
Alabama State’s Camden Matthews emerged as one of the top bullpen arms in the Southwestern Athletic Conference during the 2026 season, earning SWAC Relief Pitcher of the Year honors after consistently delivering in high-pressure situations for the Hornets.
 
Matthews established himself as a dependable late-inning option throughout the season, recording a league leading six saves while helping Alabama State secure key conference victories. He became a steady presence out of the bullpen, routinely entering games in critical moments and shutting down opposing offenses.
 
Newcomer of the Year
Alabama State’s Miguel Oropeza made an immediate impact during the 2026 season, emerging as one of the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s top newcomers and earning SWAC Newcomer of the Year honors following a standout campaign for the Hornets.
 
Oropeza quickly became one of Alabama State’s most productive players, providing consistency both offensively and defensively throughout the season. His ability to contribute in key moments helped the Hornets remain competitive in conference play while establishing himself as one of the league’s top all-around performers as he led his team in batting average (.352) and RBI (52).
 
Freshman of the Year
Arkansas-Pine Bluff freshman Aaron Grant made an immediate impact during the 2026 season, emerging as one of the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s top young talents and earning SWAC Freshman of the Year honors.
 
Grant quickly established himself as a key contributor for the Golden Lions throughout his debut collegiate campaign, showcasing consistency at the plate and maturity beyond his years while batting .355 with 62 hits and 50 RBI. He became an important piece of the Arkansas-Pine Bluff lineup while producing offensively against both conference and nonconference competition.

2026 All-SWAC Baseball Team and Individual Awards
 
Coach of the Year
Jonathan Hernandez, Bethune-Cookman
 
Player of the Year
Jose Fernandez, Bethune-Cookman
 
Hitter of the Year
K.J. White, Southern
 
Pitcher of the Year
Edwin Sanchez, Bethune-Cookman
 
Relief Pitcher of the Year
Camden Matthews, Alabama State
 
Newcomer of the Year
Miguel Oropeza, Alabama State

Freshman of the Year
Aaron Grant, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
 
All-SWAC Baseball First Team
C – Maikol Lucena, Bethune-Cookman
1B – Jose Fernandez, Bethune-Cookman
2B – K.J. White, Southern
3B – Andrey Martinez, Bethune-Cookman
SS – Jonathan Trejo, Texas Southern
DH – Jackson Mckenzie, Florida A&M
OF – Miguel Oropeza, Alabama State
OF – Michael Rodriguez, Bethune-Cookman
OF – Tyree Reed, Jackson State
SP – Edwin Sanchez, Bethune-Cookman
SP – Jorhan Laboy, Alabama State
RP – Camden Matthews, Alabama State

All-SWAC Baseball Second Team
C – Trey Callaway, Alabama State
1B – Jaylon Lucky, Southern
2B – Aaron Grant, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
3B – Ryland Duson, Prairie View A&M
SS – Erick Almonte, Bethune-Cookman
DH – Byron Robinson, Texas Southern
OF – Darryl Lee, Bethune-Cookman
OF – Niguel Jenkins, Alabama State
OF – Cameron Hill, Grambling State
SP- Caleb Granger, Florida A&M
SP – Kenney Fabian, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
RP – Pablo Torres, Bethune-Cookman

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.