Fifty-two Historically Black College and University (HBCU) baseball players have been named to the 2018 Black College Nines’ Elite Pre-Season baseball teams. First and second team selections were made in both the Large School Division (made up of NCAA Division I schools) and Small School Division (made up of those in the NCAA Divisions II and III schools as well as NAIA and USCAA schools).
Selections were made based upon research and statistical information provided by coaching staffs and sports information directors.
The 2018 HBCU Pre-Season Elite Team:
Large School Division (DI)
First Team
1B Danny Rodriguez (Bethune-Cookman University)
2B Corey Joyce (North Carolina Central University)
3B Jesus Santana (Jackson State University)
SS Marshawn Taylor (Grambling State University)
OF Cage Cox (Alabama State University)
OF Miles Sowell (North Carolina A&T University)
OF Joseph Estrada (Alabama State University)
C Adan Ordonez (North Carolina A&T University)
DH Lamar Briggs (Jackson State University)
P Anthony Maldonado (Bethune Cookmen University)
P Tyler Norris (Bethune Cookmen University)
P Devin Sweet (North Carolina Central University)
RP Ivan Coutinho (Bethune Cookmen University)
Second Team
1B John Pope (Southern University)
2B Gaudencio Lucca (Texas Southern University)
3B Ray Hernandez (Alabama State University)
SS Brandon Melendez (North Carolina A&T University)
OF Olajide Oloruntimilehin (Texas Southern University)
OF Carter Williams (North Carolina Central University)
OF Greg White (North Carolina A&T University)
C Evan Regez (Delaware State University)
DH Ryan Rotondo (University Maryland Eastern Shore)
P Tyler Krull (Bethune Cookmen University)
P Mark Watson (Jackson State University)
P Derrin Williams (Prairie View A&M University)
RP Michael Villanueva (Texas Southern University)
Small School Division
First Team
1B David White Jr. (Benedict College)
2B Johnathan Parnell (Claflin University)
3B Darrius England (Voorhees College)
SS Armando Valentin (Benedict College)
OF Ryan Green (Tuskegee University)
OF Jahleel Sewer (Virginia State University)
OF Randy Norris (Winston Salem State University)
C Hamlet Flores (Talladega College)
DH Greg Alexander (Kentucky State University)
P Joseph Lyall (Jarvis Christian College)
P Seth Reeves (Winston Salem State University)
P Steve Kemp (Harris-Stowe State University)
RP Tyler Boles (Harris-Stowe State University)
Second Team
1B Xavius Burden (Miles College)
2B Dominic Johnson (Tuskegee University)
3B Brandon Story (Kentucky State University)
SS Jordan Pontious (Edward Waters College)
OF Andrew McCoy (Benedict College)
OF Brandon Ford (Winston Salem State University)
OF Gustavo Castellano (Talladega College)
C Anthony Ortiz (Jarvis Christian College)
DH Ricky Butts (Selma University)
P CJ Tatum (Albany State University)
P Stephen Wells (Harris-Stowe State University)
P Evan Krenz (Paine College)
RP Bryan Marquez (Talladega College)
For a link to the 2017 final individual statistics for each member of the 2018 pre-season Elite team, click here.