Current/Contemporary HBCU Baseball News

Tracking HBCU Baseball 2024 Risers

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With the 2024 college baseball season right around the corner, Black College Nines highlights some of the top HBCU ballplayers on the rise. Which players made the biggest jump throughout the summer and fall, and which players do we think can soar in 2024. We received input and information from the programs’ coaching staffs and sports information departments. These are the players we think can make the jump this spring.

Let the 2024 season begin…

Potential Risers Who Could Soar:

Alabama State University 

Jack Hay 1B, power to all fields, evidence in the 85 hits in 56 games, 10 home runs, and 61 runs driven in which includes a .575 slugging percentage. Led the SWAC with 85 hits and 1.52 hits per game, slugged .571 and had a .472 on base percentage (10th SWAC), 1.09 RBI per game ranked 7th in the conference.

Hitting & Fielding Statistics 

 
Season AVG GP GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SLG% BB HBP SO
2023 .385 56 56 221 55 85 10 1 10 61 .575 36 4 37
Total .385 56 56 221 55 85 10 1 10 61 .575 36 4 37
 
Season PO A E FLD%
2023 162 8 8 .955
Total 162 8 8 .955

Alabama State University 

Randy Flores INF, one of the SWACs all-round players, station to station in a heart beat recorded 36 steals in 44 attempts while belting 10 home runs, and 54 runs driven in. Led SWAC in stolen bases (38/5th NCAA) and sacrifice flies (10/1st NCAA), ranked second as toughest to strikeout (15.2/10th NCAA), 1.39 hits per game ranked 5th in the SWAC.

Hitting & Fielding Statistics

 
Season AVG GP GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SLG% BB HBP SO SB
2023 .336 59 59 244 62 82 11 3 10 54 .529 40 2 16 37
Total .336 59 59 244 62 82 11 3 10 54 .529 40 2 16 37
 
Season PO A E FLD%
2023 80 120 14 .935
Total 80 120 14 .935

Benedicts College Tigers

Jamel Mitchell Jr. Of/P 2023 led the NCAA in stolen bases per game. He has 97 career steals in two seasons 2022 HBCU Baseball All Elites. Plays in a system that dissect every pitchers moves and delivery. He stolen base numbers should match or excel his stolen base numbers (60) 2022 season.

Pitching, Hitting, Fielding Statistics

 
Season ERA W L APP GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER BB SO
2022 14.04 0 3 8 0 0 0 0 8.1 11 24 13 17 4
2023 9.00 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2.0 4 3 2 3 1
Total 13.06 0 3 9 0 0 0 0 10.1 15 27 15 20 5
 
Season AVG GP GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SLG% BB HBP SO SB OB%
2022 .290 47 43 155 51 45 0 0 0 10 .290 24 4 22 36 .399
2023 .337 32 31 98 34 33 5 0 0 12 .388 25 1 10 60 .472
Total .308 79 74 253 85 78 5 0 0 22 .328 49 5 32 96 .429
 
Season PO A E FLD%
2022 114 4 8 .937
2023 73 3 2 .974
Total 187 7 10 .951

North Carolina A&T University Aggie

Tre Williams RJR INF/RHP, good utility player batted.316 in 37 of 41 games played, 4 home runs and 26 runs batted in.

Hitting & Fielding Statistics  

 
Season AVG GP GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SLG% BB HBP SO SB OB%
2023 .308 39 35 143 20 44 14 0 3 23 .469 8 1 26 5 .344
Total .308 39 35 143 20 44 14 0 3 23 .469 8 1 26 5 .344
 
Season PO A E FLD%
2023 89 66 8 .951
Total 89 66 8 .951

Bethune Cookman University Wildcats

Irvin Escobar C, an impressive hitter at the plate. Aggressive batted .331 in 35 of 43 games this past 2023 season, 3 home runs and 31 runs batted in. 

Pitching & Hitting Statistics

 
Season AVG GP GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SLG% BB HBP SO SB
2022 .228 49 48 162 21 37 4 0 1 19 .272 22 5 19 3
2023 .331 43 35 124 26 41 10 0 3 28 .484 21 1 15 1
Total .273 92 83 286 47 78 14 0 4 47 .364 43 6 34 4
 
Season PO A E FLD%
2022 412 46 1 .998
2023 284 37 3 .991
Total 696 83 4 .995

Bio:

Junior (2023)

  • Appeared in 43 contests for the Wildcats and started in 35
  • Finished the season with a .331 batting average with 41 total hits in 124 at-bats
  • Had an OPS of .922 (.430 on-base percentage and .492 slugging percentage)
  • Picked up 13 extra-base hits on the year with three home runs, nine doubles, and one triple
  • Drew 22 walks and picked up one stolen base
  • Drove in 31 runs and scored 25 runs
  • Picked up 290 put-outs and 40 assists with a .991 fielding percentage as a catcher
  • Threw out 14 runners attempting to steal
  • Went 2-for-4 with a triple, a walk, a run, and three RBI against Mississippi Valley State (3/26/23)
  • Hit a bases-clearing, 3 RBI double against Alabama State (4/22/23)
  • Finished 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, a run, and two RBI against Southern (5/26/23)
  • Hit a home run in back-to-back games against Mississippi Valley State (4/15/23) (4/16/23)

Sophomore (2022)

  • Played in 49 games while starting in 48 contests on the year
  • Batted .228 across the campaign with 37 hits, four doubles and one home run
  • Added a .272 slugging percentage
  • Drove in 19 runs and scored 21 runs of his own
  • Used a .333 on-base percentage, as well as picking up 22 walks
  • Finished a perfect 3-for-3 in stolen base attempts
  • Posted a .998 fielding percentage for the season with 412 putouts and 46 assists
  • Went 3-for-3 at the plate with a run against Youngstown State (2/19/22)
  • Finished 1-for-3 at the plate with a pair of runs driven in the series-opener versus SWAC opponent Jackson State (3/18/22)
  • Picked up a 2-for-3 day at the plate against Alabama State (3/26/22) with two RBIs and a run scored
  • Hit his only home run of the year against Mississippi Valley State (4/3/22) with a two-run shot
  • Had a 3-for-7 effort with the bat against Florida A&M (4/10/22), while also registering a RBI
  • Posted a 3-for-5 effort at the plate with a RBI versus SWAC opponent Alabama A&M (5/15/22) in the series finale

Freshman (2021)

  • Bethune-Cookman opted out of the 2020-21 athletic year due to the COVID pandemic

Florida A&M University 

Janmikell Bastardo, hit .332 with 13 home runs and 54 runs batted in 58 games last season. When he goes so go’s FAMU at the plate.

Hitting & Fielding Statistics 

 
Season AVG GP GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SLG% BB HBP SO SB
2023 .340 57 57 206 55 70 13 1 13 54 .602 21 7 35 1
Total .340 57 57 206 55 70 13 1 13 54 .602 21 7 35 1
 
Season PO A E FLD%
2023 42 1 1 .977
Total 42 1 1 .977

BIO: 

2023 (Graduate Student)

  • SWAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll
  • Named to All-SWAC Second Team
  • Earned SWAC Hitter of the Week
  • Played in 58 games with 210 at-bats
  • Had a batting average of.333 and slugging percentage of .590
  • Recorded 55 runs, 70 hits, 13 doubles, a triple, 13 home runs and 54 RBIs

Talladega College 

Jose Franco, RHP, 14 appearances in 65 innings pitched, struck out 68 batters, allowed 35 earned runs with a 4.37 earned run average. 7-2 last season with wins against NAIA top ranked teams. A Black College Nines Elite HBCU Baseball first teamer.

Pitching & Fielding Statistics

 
Season ERA W L APP GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER BB SO
2023 4.37 7 3 14 10 0 0 0 68.0 59 27 23 13 65
Total 4.17 5 3 10 10 0 0 0 68.0 59 27 23 13 65
 
Season PO A E FLD%
2023 9 2 1 .917
Total 9 2 1 .917

Talladega College 

Ramses Ortega, RHP, reliever pitcher in 15 appearances, 49 Ks only 19 earned runs allowed with a 3.40 earned run average.

Pitching & Fielding Statistics

 
Season ERA W L APP GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER BB SO
2023 3.40 4 1 15 1 0 0 2 50.1 60 23 19 27 49
Total 3.40 4 1 15 1 0 0 2 50.1 60 23 19 27 49
 
Season PO A E FLD%
2023 1 3 1 .800
Total 1 3 1 .800

Talladega College 

Darlin Fernandez, OF, in 47 games last season 175 at bats with .326 batting average recorded 57 hits, 7 Doubles, 9 home runs, 39 runs batted in, and 21 stolen bases.

Hitting & Fielding Statistics

 
Season AVG GP GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SLG% BB HBP SO SB
2023 .326 47 47 175 47 57 7 2 9 39 .543 20 5 53 21
Total .326 47 47 175 47 57 7 2 9 39 .543 20 5 53 21
 
Season PO A E FLD%
2023 97 0 5 .951
Total 97 0 5 .951

Miles College 

Maxwell Davenport, INF, batted .310, belted 8 doubles, 3 home runs, and 23 runs batted in 11 for 14 on the base path.

Hitting & Fielding Statistics

 
Season AVG GP GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SLG% BB HBP SO SB
2022 .300 50 43 150 42 45 7 4 3 30 .460 31 2 44 25
2023 .302 26 25 86 18 26 8 3 3 22 .570 17 2 29 12
Total .301 76 68 236 60 71 15 7 6 52 .500 48 4 73 37
 
Season PO A E FLD%
2022 77 83 15 .914
2023 66 56 9 .931
Total 143 139 24 .922

Virginia State University 

Joseph Hastings, RHP, ace of the staff last season, recorded a 3.45 earned run average in 10 starts and 12 appearances, 5-3 record in 57.1 innings on the hill, striking out 48 batters.

Pitching, Hitting & Fielding Statistics

 
Season ERA W L APP GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER BB SO
2023 3.45 5 3 12 10 1 0 0 57.1 47 30 22 13 48
Total 3.45 5 3 12 10 1 0 0 57.1 47 30 22 13 48
 
Season AVG GP GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SLG% BB HBP SO
2023 .250 22 16 24 6 6 4 0 0 5 .417 4 0 6
Total .250 22 16 24 6 6 4 0 0 5 .417 4 0 6
 
Season PO A E FLD%
2023 21 8 2 .935
Total 21 8 2 .935

 

Wiley University Wildcats

Jhan Carlos Javier OF, 2023 power at the plate. Led team with .364 batting average, 5 home runs, 41 runs batted in. On MLB radar. 

Hitting & Fielding Statistics 

g ab r h 2b 3b hr rbi bb k sb cs avg obp slg
2021-22 25 61 9 19 5 – 2 9 9 14 1 1 .311 .400 .492
2022-23 41 132 39 48 8 7 5 41 19 21 13 0 .364 .439 .644
2023-24 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Total 66 193 48 67 13 7 7 50 28 35 14 1 .347 .427 .596

 

g tc po a e fpct dp sba rcs rcs% pb ci
2021-22 25 32 28 2 2 .938 – – – – – –
2022-23 41 46 39 3 4 .913 0 0 0 – 0 0
2023-24 – 0 – – – – – – – – – –
Total 66 78 67 5 6 .923 0 0 0 – 0 0

ACCOLADES

  • 2023 All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference First Team Designated Hitter
  • 2023 All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference First Team Outfielder

CAREER HIGHS

HITTING

  • At-Bats: 6 at Philander Smith (4/8/23)
  • Hits: 3, 6 times; last vs. Tougaloo College (4/16/23)
  • Doubles: 1, 13 times; last vs. Philander Smith (4/23/23)
  • Triples: 2 vs. Tougaloo College (4/16/23)
  • Home Runs: 2 at Oakwood (Gm 1) (3/19/23)
  • Runs Scored:5 at Rust College (3/23/23)
  • RBI: 6, 2 times; last vs. Tougaloo College (4/16/23)
  • Stolen Bases: 2, 2 times; last vs. Philander Smith (4/28/23)
  • Hitting Streak: 11 (2/25/23-3/23/23)

ATHLETIC CAREER
2022 FRESHMAN

  • Played 25 games with 21 starts
  • Batted .311
  • Recorded 19 hits, including three multi-hit games
  • Scored nine runs
  • Drove in nine RBI
  • Homered twice
  • Notched five doubles
  • Stole a base
  • Made 28 putouts with two assists

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