Three Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Baseball programs received votes in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) 2023 Preseason NCAA Division I Poll released on January 31, 2023.
Alabama State’s 2022 campaign ended with an overall record of 34-23, including a 21-8 mark in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The Hornets were the 2022 SWAC champions, made the post season NCAA DI Knoxville Regionals and were crowned Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Baseball National Champion in 2022, the program’s fourth national title. Corey King looks to continue to be the offensive leader for the Hornets in 2023. On the mound, the Hornets will be led by LHP Osvaldo Mendez, RHP Kyler McIntosh and LHP Ricardo Rivera.
Coppin State recorded a 24-28 overall record last season and were 15-8 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Coppin won the MEAC title (MEAC no longer supports baseball) in 2022 and saw postseason NCAA play in the Greenville Regional. Coppin returns six of their top eight hitters, including Black College Nines Elite Jordan Hamberg along with Sebastien Sarabia and Corey Miley, Also the entire starting infield returns along with the entire pitching staff which set a school record for strikeouts with 429 last season.
Prairie View A&M 2022 record 30-27 overall, and 19-11 in the SWAC. The 2023 season Prairie View baseball team returns several starters at key positions. The pitching staff return top starters Ty Tubbs, Victor Mendoza, Matt Krall and Michael Dews have displayed great stuff. As a result, the Panthers brought in more pitching (7 pitchers) depth from Texas junior colleges.
The NCBWA 2023 Preseason list:
A total of 75 schools (NCBWA poll record) received votes or are rated among the first Top 35 in 2023.
| 2022 NCBWA DIVISION I PRESEASON POLL (JAN. 31) | ||||
| Rk. | School | Conference | Record | Pvs. |
| 1. | LSU | SEC | 40-22 | 21 |
| 2. | Tennessee | SEC | 57-9 | 9 |
| 3. | Stanford | Pac-12 | 47-18 | 7 |
| 4. | Florida | SEC | 42-24 | 22 |
| 5. | Texas A&M | SEC | 44-20 | 4 |
| 6. | Arkansas | SEC | 46-21 | 3 |
| 7. | Ole Miss | SEC | 42-23 | 1 |
| 8. | Wake Forest | ACC | 41-19-1 | RV |
| 9. | Vanderbilt | SEC | 39-23 | 24 |
| 10. | Louisville | ACC | 42-21-1 | 12 |
| 11. | Oklahoma State | Big 12 | 42-22 | 17 |
| 12. | East Carolina | American Athletic | 46-21 | 14 |
| 13. | North Carolina | ACC | 42-22 | 15 |
| 14. | UCLA | Pac-12 | 40-24 | 27 |
| 15. | Maryland | Big Ten | 48-14 | 19 |
| 16. | TCU | Big 12 | 38-22 | 25 |
| 17. | Miami | ACC | 40-20 | 20 |
| 18. | Virginia Tech | ACC | 45-14 | 13 |
| 19. | Virginia | ACC | 39-19 | 30 |
| 20. | Southern Miss | Sun Belt | 47-19 | 11 |
| 21. | Oregon | Pac-12 | 36-25 | RV |
| 22. | Texas Tech | Big 12 | 39-22 | 23 |
| 23. | Oregon State | Pac-12 | 48-18 | 10 |
| 24. | N.C. State | ACC | 36-21 | RV |
| 25. | Alabama | SEC | 31-27 | – |
| 26. | Texas | Big 12 | 47-22 | 8 |
| 27. | Auburn | SEC | 43-22 | 6 |
| 28. | South Carolina | SEC | 27-28 | – |
| 29. | UC Santa Barbara | Big West | 44-14 | 28 |
| 30. | Connecticut | American Athletic | 50-16 | 16 |
| 31. | Mississippi State | SEC | 26-30 | – |
| 32. | Florida State | ACC | 34-25 | RV |
| 33. | Arizona | Pac-12 | 39-25 | RV |
| 34. | Notre Dame | ACC | 41-17 | 5 |
| 35. | Rutgers | Big Ten | 44-15 | – |
| Others receiving votes (listed alphabetically): Alabama State (34-25), Arizona State (26-32), California Baptist (36-20), Campbell (41-19), Central Michigan (42-19), Clemson (35-23), Coastal Carolina (39-20-1), Coppin State (24-30), Creighton (31-18), Dallas Baptist (34-24-1), Davidson (43-13), Evansville (32-24), Georgia (36-23), Georgia Southern (41-20), Georgia Tech (36-24), Gonzaga (37-19), Grand Canyon (41-21), Houston (37-24), Illinois (30-22), Indiana (27-32), Kennesaw State (36-28), Kentucky (33-26), Liberty (37-23), Long Island (37-21), Louisiana (37-23), Louisiana Tech (43-21), Michigan (34-28), Oklahoma (45-24), Old Dominion (41-17), Oral Roberts (38-20), Prairie View A&M (30-27), San Diego (37-20), San Diego State (18-38), Seattle University (15-33), Texas State (47-14), Troy (32-24), UC Irvine (32-24), UNLV (36-22), Utah (26-27-1), Wright State (30-27). | ||||
| By conference: SEC 11, ACC 9, Pac-12 5, Big 12 4, American Athletic 2, Big Ten 2, Big West 1, Sun Belt 1. | ||||
| Records are from the 2022 season | ||||