BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Alabama State University first baseman Juan Cruz was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Co-Hitter of the Year, announced by the league on Tuesday.
 
Overall, four Hornets were honored with All-SWAC honors that were handed out at the SWAC's Baseball Awards ceremony at the Embassy Suites in Birmingham, Ala.
 
Cruz and outfielder Kameron Douglas were selected First-Team All-SWAC, while pitcher Jorhan Laboy and second baseman Alex Espaillat were named to the second team.
 
Cruz played in 56 games with 56 starts, hitting .416 with 21 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs, and 66 RBI (3rd SWAC). He slugged .697 with a .480 on base percentage. Cruz leads the SWAC in doubles, hits, and hits per game while ranking second in batting average and doubles per game (.36), 3rd in runs scored (58), fourth in RBI, and fifth in home runs, slugging percentage, and toughest to strikeout (11.9).
 
Cruz leads the NCAA with 98 hits while ranking 3rd in the NCAA in hits per game (1.75) and 5th in total bases (164). He is 12th in the country in batting average (.416), 31st in RBI (66),
 
Douglas has played in 55 games with 54 starts.  He ranks third in the SWAC in hits (73), fifth in home runs (14) and sac flies (5), eighth in RBI (56), and 10th in slugging percentage (.616). The Woodstock, Ga., native hit .338 with 16 doubles, one triple, 14 home runs, and 56 RBI.
Jorhan Laboy is third in the SWAC in complete games (2/12th NCAA), 4th in ERA (3.59) and wins (7), and fifth in strikeouts (76). Laboy also leads in walks per nine innings (2.32) and strikeouts-to-walk ratio (3.45).
 
Espaillat is second on the team with a .350 batting average through 42 games played, 40 starts. The Seminole, Fla., native has seven doubles, three triples, one home run, and 37 RBI during his freshman campaign.
 
Alabama State opens play in the 2025 SWAC Tournament against Jackson State on Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Ala.
 
 
2025 All-SWAC Baseball Team and Individual Awards
 
Coach of the Year
Jonathan Hernandez, Bethune-Cookman
 
Player of the Year
Cardell Thibodeaux, Southern
 
Co-Hitter of the Year
Juan Cruz, Alabama State
 
Co-Hitter of the Year
Andrey Martinez, Bethune-Cookman
 
Pitcher of the Year
Eric Elliott, Jackson State
 
Relief Pitcher of the Year
Jean Carlos Zambrano, Bethune-Cookman
 
Freshman of the Year
Garrett Workman, Florida A&M
 
Newcomer of the Year
Cardell Thibodeaux, Southern
 
All-SWAC Baseball First Team
C – Broedy Poppell, Florida A&M
1B – Juan Cruz, Alabama State
2B – Jesus Vanegas, Bethune-Cookman
3B – Jay Campbell, Florida A&M
SS – Bryce Hughes, Texas Southern
DH – Taj Bates, Southern 
OF – Cardell Thibodeaux, Southern
OF – Andrey Martinez, Bethune-Cookman
OF – Kameron Douglas, Alabama State
SP – Eric Elliott, Jackson State
SP – Kenney Fabian, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
RP – Jean Carlos Zambrano, Bethune-Cookman

All-SWAC Baseball Second Team
C – Chris Marcellus, Grambling State
1B – Wilbert Perez, Jackson State
2B – Alex Espaillat, Alabama State
3B – KJ White, Southern
SS – Jeter Polledo, Bethune-Cookman
DH – Damian Garcia, Texas Southern
OF – Trey Rutledge, Alabama A&M
OF – Darryl Lee, Bethune-Cookman
OF – Jordan McCladdie, Jackson State 
SP- Jorhan Laboy, Alabama State
SP – Edwin Sanchez, Bethune-Cookman
SP – Nick Luckett, Southern
RP – Ethan Bates, Grambling State
RP- Peyton Huff, Southern