Bethune-Cookman Baseball Head Coach Jonathan Hernandez 2024 HBCU Baseball Black College Nines Coach of the Year
Pitching and defense will be crucial for the Wildcats in the upcoming 2025 season. Experience will also play a vital role for the 2025 version of the B-CU Baseball team as key members return both on the pitching and position player sides. With the addition of newcomers, the Wildcats want to make another run toward the SWAC Baseball Championship in 2025.
“After what was an unusual Fall due to both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, we are excited to go out and compete this upcoming 2025 season. Our student-athletes did a great job responding to the adversity that we faced throughout the Fall season after both Hurricanes disrupted our Fall Season”, Coach Hernandez said.
On the pitching side the Wildcats feature Friday night starter Tanner Boccabello who was named the 2024 SWAC Newcomer of the Year. The projected Saturday starter is sophomore RHP Joel Core who pitched most of the midweek games for B-CU last season as a freshman. The competition will heat up once B-CU returns for Spring practice to determine who will get the start on Sundays.
The bullpen will be a strong one for the Wildcats. Led by the 2024 SWAC Relief Pitcher of the Year in RHP Pablo Torres, who in 18 appearances last season recorded 6 saves and opposing hitters hit .185 against Torres. Senior RHP Yoansell Diaz will also be expected to contribute to the Wildcats bullpen as he had a really good Fall Season for B-CU. Hernandez and his staff will also count on several other pitchers to compete for quality innings throughout the 2025 season.
Hernandez stated, “We believe our pitching staff will be a strength for us. We have depth on the pitching side that will complement what we can do on the offensive side with our ballclub for this upcoming season.
The Wildcats return 5 position players who started for B-CU last season and were able to bring in talented JUCO transfers as well as transfers from the NCAA Transfer Portal which are expected to produce on the offensive side for the Wildcats after showing what they can do this Fall Season for B-CU.
“Overall, we believe this ballclub this year has a chance to be special, but like everything we have to continuously put in the work. Nothing is ever guaranteed, and we understand that, but we have an experienced group filled with high character guys and we just can’t wait to get things rolling once Spring practices begin in January”, Hernandez said.
The Wildcats will open up the 2025 season on Friday February 14, 2025 as they host Stony Brook University at 7PM on Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, FL.