Completing the first season in the SWAC conference, the Wildcats ended their season one game away from the SWAC tournament championship game. It was a great 2022 season for the Wildcats after not being able to play for two seasons due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fast forward to the fall of 2022. Head Coach Johnny Hernandez and the Wildcats coaching staff brought in another highly nationally ranked JUCO recruiting class to Daytona Beach, FL. According to the JUCO Baseball Blog, which is a junior college baseball website, the Wildcats recruiting class of JUCO transfers ranked 37th in the country.
The Wildcats were able to add 11 junior college transfers, 2 four-year transfers, and 8 freshmen for the 2022-2023 campaign. In addition, the Wildcats round out their roster with 20 returnees for the fall semester.
This fall season, though, has been complicated for B-CU, as Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, disrupted almost five weeks for the Wildcats. Coach Hernandez is optimistic as the fall comes to an end with the annual Maroon and Gold Fall World Series. The Wildcats were able to have a fall exhibition game vs UCF, who are transitioning into joining a Power-5 conference, the Big 12. On that night, the 14-inning game vs UCF provided a glimpse to what can be a really good season for the Wildcats.
The Cats are very excited about this year’s JUCO recruiting class that coach Hernandez put together. The program is fortunate to land some of the top JUCO recruits in the country and to have them in Daytona Beach and make an immediate impact for the upcoming 2023 season.
Bethune also had over 20 Major League Baseball (MLB) scouts present at B-CU baseball showcase. The players showcased their skills for the Wildcats annual Scout Day at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. This is huge for the program. The turnout for the annual event helps recruiting and lays the ground work for the coming 2023 season.
Coach Hernandez is laying the foundation to build a powerhouse in the SWAC.
The Wildcats open up the 2023 baseball season on Friday, February 17 as they host Lehigh University in a three-game series at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.