Based on fall scouting reports on this year’s class of incoming freshman ball players at HBCU baseball programs and information from head coaches and their coaching staffs, Black College Nines takes a look at key newcomers who could have an impact for the 2020 season…
Among the Large School:
Prairie View A&M University
Ty Tubbs (Right-Handed Pitcher) has tremendous talent on the mound and has potential to become an outstanding pitcher in the SWAC. He has very good life on the fastball with a lot of movement. Projects to become one of the starters for the Panthers this season in their rotation.
Bethune-Cookman University
Knicko Billings (Pitcher) Who went 4-0 with 59 strikeouts and a 1.21 earned run average as a senior in high school. Throws hard and mixes his pitches well.
Alabama State University
Sebastian Colon (Infield) 6-2 160 lb. frame middle infielder has outstanding hands and quickness. He has a great upside where he has a chance to start at either SS or 2B this season. Expect him to make an immediate impact.
Coppin State University
Tim Ruffino (LHP) will see a lot of time and is a great human interest story as he has just one hand, but he can pitch.
Grambling State University
Terry Tolliver (Outfielder) Speedster and no fly zone outfielder. He has shown promise as a hitter for which he has a high ceiling with development. As a result, he projected to start games in the outfield this season for the Tigers.
Norfolk State University
Dalton Barham, (Left-Handed Pitcher) Lettered two years at Maury High School in Norfolk, Va…Tallied a 5-1 record and 1.16 ERA as a senior. Struck out 62 batters in 36.1 innings pitched, earning second-team All-Eastern District accolade. Ranked with the top HS players in the country by Perfect Game.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Cory Joyce (Infielder) Played baseball and football and earned letters for each sport all four years. He will play a major role on this team because of his versatility and his ability as a hitter-he should get significant playing time this season. Team captain for baseball for three years in High School were his baseball team was District champions.
North Carolina A&T University
Keith Taylor (Infielder) Ranked in the top-500 nationally and is the sixth-ranked third baseman in Georgia by Perfect Game. He was a four-year varsity player and two-time first-team All-Region and two-time second-team All-Region. Voted the Most Outstanding Offensive Player and Team MVP in 2019.
North Carolina Central University
Andre White (Outfielder) Big time player who set the North Carolina High School record for batting average last year. Good range in gap to gap speed in the outfield. At 6′ 2, 230, looks like a MLB draft prospect.
Small School:
Harris Stowe State University
Will Menendez (Infielder) Opening day starter at third base. Power bat, .600 batting average senior year in high school, penciled in the middle of the order, tremendous power to all fields.
Clark Atlanta University
Justice Page (Utility) from Chicago out the Chicago White Sox ACE program will start the season at shortstop and see time on the mound in 2020 for the Panthers.
Daniel Gay (Utility) Also from Chicago White Sox ACE program will be the opening day starter on the mound and will see time in the line-up in the infield and outfield.
Kentucky State University
Collier Higgs (Utility) Pop in his bat, can play any position has speed to go along with his awareness. Power at the plate will impact into the line.
Edward Waters College
Will Dowling (Catcher) Athletic left handed gap hitter, strong arm in throwing would-be base stealers out.
Tuskegee University
Raymond Henderson (Catcher) High IQ gap hitter with pop in his bat, good signal caller.
Richard Smith (Middle Infielder) Offensively a crafty situational contact hitter sprays hits to all fields with speed on the base paths.
Cyree Broughton (Utility) Can play any position, will bat in any order, speed from station to station in a heartbeat. Will impact in the SIAC.
Honorable Mention Large School:
Matthew Garcia Bethune-Cookman, Caden Walton Coppin State, Tyler Warrick Delaware State, Miles Thompson Florida A&M, Jason Marono Alabama A&M, Carter Duke Alabama A&M, DJ Stevens Jackson State, Reuben Bennevendo Texas Southern
Honorable Mention Small School:
Rahmir Vaughn Savannah State, Chance Guidry Wiley College, Lanacus Hudson, Tougaloo, Ben Kurkowski Harris Stowe State, Seth Tyrus Stillman