MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Perfect Game released its Pre-Season All-SWAC Baseball team that saw Alabama State University's Rady Flories (2B) and
Yeriel Pastrana (OF) yield top honors on Thursday.
Flores was named the Preseason Player of the Year and Pastrana was selected as the Freshman of the Year while six Hornets were listed on the All-Conference team.
Flores was joined on the Preseason All-SWAC team by
Jamal George (C/IF),
Jack Hay (OF/1B),
Ali LaPread (OF), Jorhan Laboy (LHP), and
Luis Rodriguez (RHP).
The Hornets scripted a season for the record books in 2023, posting a school record 41-18 record and a 26-4 conference mark. The Hornets led the conference in seven offensive categories, including the NCAA's top batting average of .334. ASU led the SWAC with 137 doubles (19th NCAA), 699 hits (6th NCAA), 81 home runs, 1.37 home runs per game, .416 on base percentage (14th NCAA),15 sac flies (15th NCAA), 8.5 runs per game (12th NCAA), and .523 slugging percentage (18th NCAA).
Vazquez was named the SWAC Coach of the Year for the second straight year, pitcher
Omar Melendez was named the SWAC Pitcher of the Year and catcher
Jamal George was the SWAC Freshman of the Year. Overall, five Hornets earned All-SWAC honors. Omar Malendez, and
Randy Flores earned first-team honors while George,
Ian Matos (OF) and
Kyler McIntosh nabbed second-team accolades.
Additionally, George earned Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Freshman All-American laurels and Melendez was named to three All-American Teams.
Alabama State opens the 2024 season with a four-game series against Valparaiso on Feb. 16-18 at the Wheeler Watkins Baseball Complex.
Preseason All-SWAC Awards
Player of the Year: Randy Flores, 2B, Alabama State
Pitcher of the Year: Tanner Boccabello, Bethune-Cookman
Freshman of the Year: Yeriel Pastrana, Alabama State
SWAC Preseason All-Conference Team
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Stats/Notes |
| C |
Jamal George |
Alabama State |
.290-6-34, SWAC Freshman of the Yea |
| 1B |
Jack Hay |
Alabama State |
.385-10-61, 55 R, B2B skills w/ pull side pop |
| MIF |
Kyle Walker |
Grambling State |
.372-2-29, 23 SB, '23 ALL-SWA |
| MIF |
Randy Flores |
Alabama State |
.336-10-54, 62 R, Top 3 stolen bases in D1 |
| MIF |
CJ Castillo |
Texas Southern |
.355-6-42, 13 2B. '23 All-SWAC 1st Team |
| 3B |
Cameron Bufford |
Grambling State |
.320-12-68, 15 2B, '23 All-SWAC 1st Team |
| OF |
Trevor Hatton |
Grambling State |
.303-12-73, 11 2B, '23 All-SWAC 1st Team |
| OF |
JanMikell Bastardo |
Florida A&M |
.333-13-54, 13 2B, '23 All-SWAC |
| OF |
Ali LaPread |
Alabama State |
.379-13-39, 10 2B in 140 at-bats |
| DH |
Alexander Olivo |
Texas Southern |
..379-13-68, 17 2B, big power |
| UT |
Sebastian Greico |
Florida A&M |
.272-17-69, SWAC Tournament MVP |
| SP |
Caleb Granger |
Florida A&M |
6-5 W/L, 85.0 IP, Quality start vs. U |
| SP |
Abraham Deleon |
Texas Southern |
6-3 W/L, 114 SO, 89.1 I |
| SP |
Tanner Boccabello |
Bethune-Cookman |
Workhorse w/command of 3-pitch mix |
| SP |
Jorhan Laboy |
Alabama State |
LHP w/command & Fall velo jum |
| RP |
Erick Gonzalez |
Jackson State |
8 SV, 53.1 IP 64 SO |
| RP |
Luis Rodriguez |
Alabama State |
Mid-90s FB, upper-80s Cutter, Low-80s SL |
