University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff designated hitter Carlos Rodriguez-Velez was named to the preseason all-SWAC first team, the conference announced Monday.He was UAPB’s lone preseason honoree.
Last season, as a junior, Rodriguez-Velez hit .316. He had 39 RBIs, 38 runs and 22 walks, all team highs. He hit four home runs, tied for another team high.
He was UAPB’s lone preseason honoree. Jackson State’s Jordan McCladdie was named preseason player of the year, while Florida A&M’s Caleb Granger was named preseason pitcher of the year. Jason Lazo of Texas Southern was selected as the second team designated hitter behind Rodriguez-Velez.
In the SWAC preseason poll, the Golden Lions were picked to finish ninth in the league’s first season without divisions.
UAPB received one first place vote and was picked ahead of Alabama A&M, Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley State. The top eight teams will qualify for the SWAC Baseball Tournament to be held at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Ala.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The SWAC previously divided its baseball teams into the same divisions used for football and softball, with teams only facing divisional opponents in league play.
Last season, the last with that format, UAPB finished fifth out of six teams in the West Division ahead of Alcorn State.
Grambling State was picked as the preseason favorite this year, with Bethune-Cookman close behind.
UAPB opens its 2025 campaign, its first under new coach Logan Stout, with a three-game series at Oral Roberts beginning Friday in Tulsa, Okla.
SWAC Baseball Preseason SelectionsPlace;School;1st place votes1.;Grambling State;156 points (7)2.;Bethune-Cookman;150 (3)3.;Jackson State;1464.;Alabama State;142 (1)5.;Florida A&M140 (2)6.;Southern;119 (1)7.;Texas Southern;1038.;Prairie View A&M979.;UAPB;58 (1)10.;Alabama A&M4711.;Alcorn State;42 (1)12.;Mississippi Valley State;40Preseason Player of the YearJordan McCladdie, Jackson StatePreseason Pitcher of the YearCaleb Granger, Florida A&MPreseason First TeamPos.;Name;SchoolC;Broedy Poppell;Florida A&M1BJuan Cruz;Alabama State2B;Lee Allen;Prairie View A&M3BJaden Jones;Texas SouthernSS;Kyler McIntosh;Alabama StateDH; Carlos Rodriguez; UAPBOF;Jordan McCladdie;Jackson StateOF;Michael Burroughs;Prairie View A&MOFJoseph Eichelberger;Jackson StateSP;Tanner Boccabello;Bethune-CookmanSP;Caleb Granger;Florida A&MRPPablo Torres;Bethune-CookmanPreseason Second TeamPos.;Name;School1B;Manny Souffrain;Bethune-Cookman2B;Ben Martin;Alcorn State3B;Marshal Jonas;Prairie View A&MSSRobert Tate Jr.;Jackson StateDH;Jason Lazo;Texas SouthernOF;Brycen Hammonds;Alabama A&MOFMichael Smith;Prairie View A&MOFSergio Rivera;Bethune-CookmanSP;Mason Martinez;Grambling StateSP;Ranard Grace;SouthernRP;Javier Martinez;Grambling State
SWAC Baseball Preseason Selections
Place;School;1st place votes
1.;Grambling State;156 points (7)
2.;Bethune-Cookman;150 (3)
3.;Jackson State;146
4.;Alabama State;142 (1)
5.;Florida A&M140 (2)
6.;Southern;119 (1)
7.;Texas Southern;103
8.;Prairie View A&M97
9.;UAPB;58 (1)
10.;Alabama A&M47
11.;Alcorn State;42 (1)
12.;Mississippi Valley State;40
Preseason Player of the Year
Jordan McCladdie, Jackson State
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Caleb Granger, Florida A&M
Preseason First Team
Pos.;Name;School
C;Broedy Poppell;Florida A&M
1B;Juan Cruz;Alabama State
2B;Lee Allen;Prairie View A&M
3B;Jaden Jones;Texas Southern
SS;Kyler McIntosh;Alabama State
DH; Carlos Rodriguez; UAPB
OF;Jordan McCladdie;Jackson State
OF;Michael Burroughs;Prairie View A&M
OF;Joseph Eichelberger;Jackson State
SP;Tanner Boccabello;Bethune-Cookman
SP;Caleb Granger;Florida A&M
RP;Pablo Torres;Bethune-Cookman
Preseason Second Team
Pos.;Name;School
1B;Manny Souffrain;Bethune-Cookman
2B;Ben Martin;Alcorn State
3B;Marshal Jonas;Prairie View A&M
SS;Robert Tate Jr.;Jackson State
DH;Jason Lazo;Texas Southern
OF;Brycen Hammonds;Alabama A&M
OF;Michael Smith;Prairie View A&M
OF;Sergio Rivera;Bethune-Cookman
SP;Mason Martinez;Grambling State
SP;Ranard Grace;Southern
RP;Javier Martinez;Grambling State