BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2025 All-SWAC Baseball teams and individual award winners on Tuesday evening. The all-conference honors were voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.  

Southern's Cardell Thibodeaux was named Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, while Alabama State's Juan Cruz and Bethune-Cookman's Andrey Martinez share the Hitter of the Year award. Jackson State's Eric Elliott was tabbed Pitcher of the Year while Bethune-Cookman's Jean Carlos Zambrano was named Relief Pitcher of the Year. Florida A&M's Garrett Workman was tabbed Freshman of the Year.

Bethune-Cookman's Jonathan Hernandez was named Coach of the Year after leading the Wildcats to a regular-season title, rounding out the list of individual award winners.

Thibodeaux is the nation's leader in slugging percentage and ranks third in the nation in batting average. He leads the conference in several categories at the plate. He's also a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Award that goes to the national college baseball player of the year.

Cardell Thibodeaux stats for the season:
.438 batting average (#1 in SWAC, #3 in Div. 1 baseball)
.875 slugging percentage (#1 in SWAC, #1 in Div. 1 baseball)
0.550 on base percentage (#2 in SWAC, #4 in Div. 1 baseball)
1.425 on base + slugging percentage (#1 in SWAC)
69 runs scored (#1 in SWAC, #20 in Div. 1 baseball)
18 home runs (#2 in SWAC, #31 IN Div. 1 baseball)
77 hits (#2 in SWAC, #54 in Div.1 baseball)
68 RBIs (#4 in SWAC, #22 in Div.1 baseball)

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 Luckettt, Southern
RP – Ethan Bates, Grambling State
RP- Peyton Huff, Southern

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