For the Benedict baseball program, “those base stealing bandits”, fall ball has started. The Tigers have 22 returners including last year’s national stolen base leader Bradon O’Connor and shortstop Chris Harper, a senior who had a solid season hitting over .340 with 25 stolen bases and a hefty on base percentage. Third baseman Anthony Johnson returns with a solid .350 bat. He played summer ball in the New York Collegiate Baseball League. Christopher Floyd also returns from a solid season behind the plate. Sophomore outfielder Jorge Baez and catcher Juan Araujo also returns. Catcher Javier Santiago will redshirt this year due to surgery on his hand
Returning on the mound are seniors Jacob Lagos and Brian Nevils, juniors Osvaldo Aquino, Christian Moore, Philip Torres, Fareed Mizelle and Jaylin Jennings along with sophomore Raul Vargas.
NEW FRESHMAN
- Catchers Chase Bridges from Georgia and Arturo Ramos Vera from Puerto Rico.
- Pitchers, Quinton Watts from Charlotte, North Carolina.
Dartanyon Wilcox from Mississippi and Jacob Ortiz from Tucson, Arizona. - Outfielder Herbert Dudley from Georgia.
- Infielder, Reno Brock from Irmo, South Carolina.
TRANSFERS
- Nick Weston Outfield
- Jacquez Jeter Infielder
- Keeshawn Royal Infielder
- Quentin Hooks Left Handed Pitcher
- John Arellano Right Handed Pitcher
Redshirts playing this year are Infielder Ahmad Ali, Outfielder Jordan Kennedy, Right Hand Pitcher Murrell Martin and Infielder Conard Heath.
Under head coach Selwyn Young tenure, Benedict has set NCAA Division II stolen base records. In his 10 years with the Tigers, his teams have stolen 2,147 bases, including the top five spots in the NCAA Division II record book for season stolen bases. Senior outfielder O’Connor, recognized by the NCAA as the 2019 Division II stolen base statistical champion, stole 47 bases in 34 games for an average of 1.38 stolen bases per game, which not only was the best average in Division II, but was best in all three NCAA divisions.
Overall, Benedict has 20 pitching prospects in fall practice preparing for the 2020 season with plenty of speed and good bats. Said head coach Selwyn Young, “very athletic, academic kids with great baseball IQ and just overall good solid young men. I like our chances this year to be productive in all aspects of the game.”