These are HBCU baseball players to keep an eye out for in the 2024 season who may provide the most value to their teams’ success. They all have the potential to be game changing top breakout candidates to watch during the season. Black College Nines continues to access the HBCU baseball talent pool and the names you may or may not know, but could be top players in the making for the season. We provide the scoop on which pitchers and hitters have the best shot to take the next big step in their respective collegiate careers in the coming months.
Here are our HBCU baseball players to look out for this spring…
Albany State University
Albany State baseball right-hander Jeremiah Reddell has been named a first team 2024 NCBWA NCAA Division II Preseason All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). Reddell had an 1.94 earned run average, with a 12-0 record, 83.1 innings pitched, 5 complete games, 1 shutout, and 72 strikeouts in 12 appearances. Reddell also sported an opponent’s .226 batting average against. At the end of the 2023 season, Jeremiah Reddell was named a Black College Nines first team All-Elite and its “small school” Pitcher of the Year.
Rust College
Jalin Thomas, a catcher from Columbus, Georgia, swept all of the individual hitting awards by claiming both the Conference MVP and GCAC Hitter of the Year while also being selected to the All-GCAC First Team and HBCU Baseball Black College Nines Elites First Team. He was well represented among the NAIA leaderboards including the 12th-most runners caught stealing (15), 16th-most triples (5), a top-40 slot for both walks (33) and slugging percentage (.766) as well as top-50 for extra-base hits (27). As for the conference-level, he led the league in RBIs (40) and total bases (95), was second in hits (47), doubles (14) and homers (8), on top of third regarding on-base percentage (.515) and sixth for batting average (.379).
Clark Atlanta University
Asa Waites the junior from Chicago, IL looks to improve from a subpar 2023 campaign on the mound and in the field. Coming off surgery that interrupted his fall, Asa will bring experience to an otherwise inexperienced pitching staff. Waites started 12 games on the mound with 14 appearances and will continue to get the ball every weekend for the Panthers. He looks to get back to the season he had his freshman year where he led the Pitching staff in wins.
Florida A&M University
Sebastian Grieco, INF who set a new FAMU record with 17 home runs and 69 runs batted in last season, missed the entire fall with an oblique injury; and Ty Jackson, OF .373 batting average, the teams leading hitter and on-base percent leader, broke his ankle in the fall. Both should be ready to go once the 2024 season begins.
Virginia State University
Joseph Hastings, RHP 3.45 earned run average will again be the ace after a impressive season last season as well as a summer in the Coastal Plain League. The big righty is the Trojans top MLB prospect on the mound.
North Carolina A&T State University
Keep an eye out for freshman infielder JT Taylor, who really impressed the coaching staff in fall ball and will push to be immediate impact in the lineup. AJ Jones, a junior infielder who transferred in from Gardner-Webb University, hit over .300 in the Coastal Plains League this past summer and carried that success into the fall period. Others include Tre Williams, INF/RHP, Canyon Brown, C, Camden Jackson, OF, Diego Barrett, RHP (transfer Potomac State).
Grambling State University
Cameron Bufford, INF Mr. Do everything can run, play exceptional defense in the infield, quick with baseball instinct. Evidence by his .320 batting average, 12 home runs, 68 runs batted in 15 doubles, 5 triples, had 127 total bases and 66 hits. Run scoring player in a run scoring offense.
Kentucky State University
Eric Turner, RHP, 2023 SIAC strikeout leader, Turner 6-3, 3.78 earned run average, 81 innings pitched, 87 strikeouts, Dacarrius Chapman, RHP, 7-6, 8.91 earned run average, 68.2 innings on the hill, 65 strikeouts, Collier Higgs, OF, .321 batting average, 4 home runs, 32 runs batted in.
Xavier University of Louisiana
Alex Crews, SS, Junior, Chalmette, LA, transfer from Nunez CC, high IQ player, great defensively and a great hitter. Projected as the season starting leadoff hitter.
Alabama State University
Shadai Colon, the Hornets right-hander completed last year with a 3.18 earned run average. He was 5-0 in 19 appearances starting in 11 games. He threw 56.2 innings with 66 strikeouts, and he’s expected to log innings for ASU in 2024.
Clark Atlanta University
Andrew Garner from Lanham, MD returns for his junior season to improve his clutch performance from last season. The HBCU allstar had two walk-off hits for the Panthers and several other big hits throughout the 2023 season. Garner slashed .316/.427/.519 in conference play last season.
Kentavious Veal, the junior from Gordon, GA, led the team in almost every offensive category batting average, hits, stolen bases, on base percentage, base on balls and runs. Also, an HBCU allstar, Veal will move to SS to replace 4-year starter Justice Page who graduated. He looks to improve and lead the Panthers to a SIAC tournament appearance.
Southern University
Jerry Burkett, LHP, Tyeler Hawkins, OF, Logan Sanders, OF, Khyle Radcliffe, OF, Antoine Harris, RHP, Ranard Grace, C
Alabama A&M University
Jared Tribett, C, Trent Schumacher, RHP/DH
Savannah State University
Andrew Mann, RHP, returning weekend starter, Jose Santiago, RHP, returning weekend starter went 6-3 last season. Desmore Joseph, hit .345 batting average with 20 runs batted in, in 39 games, 36 as a starter.
Delaware State University
Chris Amparo, INF, batted .304, 11 home runs, 36 runs batted in last year, Nick Gnardellis, C, 9 home runs and 25 RBIs.
Coppin State
Brody Black, OF, .304 batting average in 50 games played. 32 runs batted in stealing 16-20 bases.
Florida Memorial University
Max Charnin, RHP, Black College World Series Most Valuable Player last year, 4.01 ERA, in 12 games, started, 3 completed recorded 48 strikeouts, Luis Ruiz, INF, 5 home runs and 36 runs driven home. Includes a .944 fielding percentage.
Other HBCU baseball players to watch…
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Ben VanMaanen, INF
Jarvis Christian University
Alejandro Gonzalez Moreno, RHP
Norfolk State University
Manny Jackson, C, Raphy Rodriguez, INF, Dalton Barham, LHP
Philander Smith College
Angel Figueroa, C
Alcorn State University
Kalum Banks, INF
Florida Memorial University
Nathan Harris, UTL
Bethune Cookman University
Garrett Chun, OF, Irvin Escobar, C
Texas Southern University
CJ Castillo, INF/RHP, Jaden Jones, INF
Morris College
Guillermo Morel, RHP
Claflin University
Roman Woods-Golston, RHP
Lincoln University (PA)
Jefry Azcona, IF
Huston-Tillotson University
Brian Gardner, INF, Zech Robichaux, INF
Wilberforce University
Paker Geshan, INF
West Virginia State University
Tyler Overaitis, C
Oakwood University
Mateo Hamm, C
Voorhees College
Jordyn Hill, INF, Isaiah Palmer, INF
Rust College
Shemaar Stapleton, OF
Talladega College
Miguel Oropeza, INF
Benedict College
Jalen McDuffie, OF/INF
Miles College
Brandon Leroy, C
Bluefield State University
Tahraun Hammond, INF (transfer from Virginia State)