BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Alabama State University placed seven players on the Preseason All-SWAC baseball team while the Hornets are picked to win the SWAC East Division title.
 
Catcher Jamal George, first baseman Jack Hay and second baseman Randy Flores were selected to the SWAC First-Team while third baseman Cristian Lopez, shortstop Kyler McIntosh, outfield Ali LaPread and pitcher Sebastian Colon made the second team.
 
The Hornets garnered seven first place votes to top the SWAC East Division Poll.  Bethune-Cookman (4) is picked second followed by Florida A&M (3), Jackson State (1), Alabama A&M (1) and Mississippi Valley State.
 
Grambling State, who the Hornets will play in this year's Andre Dawson Classic, tops the SWAC West Poll with seven first place votes. The Tigers are followed by Prairie View A&M (3), Southern (2), Texas Southern (1), Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Alcorn State.
Jamal George

• 2023 SWAC Freshman of the Year.
• Perfect Game Preseason All-SWAC.
• Played in 57 games, primarily at catcher.
• Hit .284 with 12 doubles, six home runs and 34 RBI in his freshman campaign. 

Jack Hay

• Perfect Game Preseason All-SWAC.
• NCBWA Preseason All-American (Third-Team).
• Saw time in the outfield, catcher, first base and designated hitter.
• Played and started in 56 games.
• Hit .385 (4th SWAC) with 10 doubles, a triple, 10 home runs and 61 RBI. (5th SWAC).
• 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. 

Randy Flores

• Prefect Game Preseason SWAC Player of the Year and Preseason All-SWAC.
• 2024 All-SWAC (First-Team)
• Played in 59 games with 58 starts at second base.
• hit .336 with 11 doubles, three triples, and 54 RBI...led with SWAC in stolen bases (38/5th NCAA) and sacrifice flies (10/1st NCAA).
• Ranked second in the league as toughest to strikeout (15.2/10th NCAA).
• 1.39 hits per game ranked 5th in the SWAC.

Cristian Lopez

• Played and started in 59 games between third base and short stop...hit .321 with 13 doubles, a triple, five home runs and 55 RBI.
• Slugged .455 and .401 on base percentage.
• Scored 38 runs and had 72 hits.
• Fielded .953.

Kyler McIntosh

• 2023 All-SWAC (Second-Team)
• Played and started in 59 games between third base and short stop.
• hit .321 with 13 doubles, a triple, five home runs and 55 RBI.
• slugged .455 and .401 on base percentage.
• scored 38 runs and had 72 hits... fielded .953...

Ali LaPread

• Played in 42 games with 35 starts in the outfield.
• Hit. 371 with 10 home runs, one triple, 13 home runs and 39 RBI.
• Scored 42 runs and had 52 hits.
• Slugged .736 and had a .460 on base percentage... 

Sebastian Colon

• Posted a 3-3 record with three saves over 31 appearances on the mound.
• Had 44 strikeouts against eight walks while allowing 33 runs, 27 earned, and 74 hits.

2024 SWAC Baseball Predicted Order of Finish
 
SWAC East
1.     Alabama State- 74 points (7) 
2.     Bethune-Cookman- 63 points (4)
3.     Florida A&M- 61 points (3)
4.     Jackson State- 46 points (1) 
5.     Alabama A&M- 35 points (1) 
6.     Mississippi Valley State- 15 points
 
SWAC West 
1.     Grambling State- 79 points (7)
2.     Prairie View A&M- 67 points (3) 
3.     Southern- 56 points  (2)
4.     Texas Southern- 55 points (1)
5.     Arkansas-Pine Bluff- 46 points
6.     Alcorn State- 33 points (3) 
 *First place votes listed in parenthesis ( )
 
Preseason All-SWAC Baseball Teams and Individual Award Winners
Preseason Player of the Year
Cameron Bufford, Grambling State
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Daniel Gaviria, Bethune-Cookman

Preseason All-SWAC Baseball First Team
C – Jamal George, Alabama State
1B – Jack Hay, Alabama State
2B – Randy Flores, Alabama State
3B – Cameron Bufford, Grambling State
SS – CJ Castillo, Texas Southern
DH – Sebastian Greico, Florida A&M
OF – Trevor Hatton, Grambling State
OF – Ty Jackson, Florida A&M
OF – Janmikell Bastardo, Florida A&M
SP – Daniel Gaviria, Bethune-Cookman
SP – Caleb Granger, Florida A&M
RP – Erick Gonzalez, Jackson State

Preseason All-SWAC Baseball Second Team
C – Jared Tribett, Alabama A&M
1B – Blake Martin, Alabama A&M
2B – Kyle Walker, Grambling State
3B – Cristian Lopez, Alabama State
SS – Kyler McIntosh, Alabama State
DH – Diego Lopez-Molina, Alcorn State 
OF – Ali Lapread, Alabama State 
OF – Garrison Weiss, Prairie View A&M
OF – Tiger Borom, Grambling State
SP – Sebastian Colon, Alabama State
SP – Michael Dews, Prairie View A&M
RP – Ethan Bates, Grambling State