HBCUAC announces Preseason All-HBCUAC Baseball Teams, Rankings

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) reveals its 2025 HBCUAC Preseason Baseball All-HBCUAC First and Second Teams and Preseason Team Rankings, as voted on by the conference head baseball coaches. Points are derived by the order each coach ranks the athletes and teams.

After dominating the conference last season, Talladega College's first baseman Miguel Oropeza is expected to rise to the top in 2025 as the Preseason Hitter of the Year. Last season, he led the conference and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics  (NAIA) with a .508 batting average and a .612 on-base percentage.. Additionally, he led the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and ranked in the top 10 nationally in hits (93), runs (80) and triples (6). Oropeza also led the conference and ranked in the top 30 in the NAIA with 69 runs batted in. Playing a key role in the Tornadoes capturing the GCAC Baseball Championship Title and taking two games in the NAIA Opening Round, Oropeza took home several accolades. He was named Most Valuable Player, Hitter of the Year, All-HBCUAC First Team selection and NAIA All-American First Team selection.

After helping the Tornadoes win the GCAC Baseball Championship Tournament and make a strong showing in the Black College World Series and NAIA Opening Round, Samuel Guadamuz is projected to be the top hurler on the mound as the 2025 Preseason Pitcher of the Year. He led the conference with 11 wins, 102 strikeouts and a 3.22 earned run average. Guadamuz was tied for fourth in the NAIA in wins and ranked in the top 30 in strikeouts. He earned All-HBCUAC First Team All-Conference and All-Tournament.

Making up the rest of the First Team are:

C Armando Jackson of Talladega College: 2024 First Team All-Conference; Hit .327, ranked second in the conference with 21 runners caught stealing and eighth with 50 hits

2B Amir Mason of Wiley University: 2024 First Team All-Conference; All-Tournament; Hit .336 with 37 runs and 27 RBI; ranked ninth with 48 hits and 25 stolen bases

3B/DH Ryan Ready of Wiley University: 2024 GCAC Newcomer of the Year, Second Team All-Conference, All-Tournament; ranked in the top three in the conference in batting average (.375), home runs (10), RBI (65) and slugging percentage (.658)

SS Jeriel Lamboy of Talladega College: 2024 All-Tournament Selection; Hit .343; Ranked in the top 10 of the conference in runs (45), stolen bases (24) and triples (3)

OF Jhan Carlos Javier of Wiley University: 2024 First Team All-Conference; ranked second in the GCAC with a .393 batting average; hit seven home runs and drove in 35 runs, which ranks fourth and seventh, respectively

OF Eddie Garza of Wiley University: Ranked third in the conference with a .500 on-base percentage and fifth with 39 stolen bases and 49 runs; Hit .313 and drove in 13 runs

OF Darlin Fernandez of Talladega College: 2024 Second Team All-Conference; Hit .340, lead the conference with seven triples; ranked in the top five with 69 hits, 67 runs, 14 doubles, seven home runs, 36 RBI and 116 total bases

SP Keyon Guillory of Wiley University: 2024 GCAC Pitcher and Freshman of the Year; First Team All-Conference; Won seven starts; pitched three shutouts, second in the conference with 95 strikeouts

RP Herson Fernandez of Talladega College: 2024 First Team All-Conference; Ranked in the top five of the conference with two saves; went 2-2 and struck out 43 in 50.2 innings

The following athletes made Second Team:

C Brendan Mendoza of Wiley University: 2024 Second Team All-Conference; ranked sixth in the conference with 13 runners caught stealing; hit .284 in 74 at-bats

1B Ivan Del Villar of Wiley University: 2024 First Team and Second Team All-Conference; led the GCAC with 12 home runs; ranked in the top 10 with 42 RBI and a .558 slugging percentage

2B Victor Rivera of Talladega College: Led the GCAC with 56 stolen bases; ranked in the top five with 72 runs; 64 hits, 59 walks, and a .508 on-base percentage

3B Issac Guzman of Talladega College: 2024 First Team All-GCAC Selection; ranked in the top 10 of the conference with a .349 batting average, 53 hits, 53 RBI, nine doubles and four triples

SS Abel Rodriguez Jr. of Wiley University: Hit .322 with 35 runs and 23 RBI, ranked fourth in the conference with 13 doubles, ranked second in the conference with 17 double plays turned

OF Kyler Sheppard of Southern University at New Orleans: 2024 Second Team All-Conference; ranked second in the GCAC with 43 stolen bases; hit .347 with 43 runs and 21 RBI; ranked in the top 10 in runs, triples (4), batting average and on-base percentage.

OF Travarez Thomas of Tougaloo College: Hit .342 with 35 runs and 19 RBI; ranked in the top 15 of the conference with 41 hits, two triples and batting average

OF Malik Berrien of Rust College: Finished third in the conference with 40 stolen bases; ranked in the top with 45 runs and nine doubles

DH JaShaun Franks of Rust College: 2024 Second Team All-Conference; hit .376 with 35 runs and 26 RBI; ranked in the top 10 of the conference with nine doubles and three triples

SP Caleb Carter of Tougaloo College: Won four starts, pitched a no-hitter against Southeastern Baptist, led the conference with eight complete games, ranked fifth with 60 strikeouts

SP Joey Olveda of Southern University at New Orleans: Went 5-1 in six starts and 10 appearances, ranked second in the conference with a 3.89 earned run average, 16th with 34 strikeouts 

RP Nick Rodriguez of Wiley University: 2024 All-Tournament Team; tied for second in the conference with three saves; Went 5-0 and struck out 44 in 52.2 innings pitched

After finishing runner-up in the regular season and sweeping through the GCAC Baseball Championship Talladega College is favored to claim the 2025 HBCU Athletic Conference Title, garnering 111 points and eight of 11 first-place votes. Wiley University, which won the regular season title and finished runner-up in the GCAC Championship followed with 96 points. Dillard University tallied 91 points and two first-place votes. The complete rankings are below.

2025 HBCU Athletic Conference Preseason Baseball Rankings

1. Talladega College 111 (8)

2. Wiley University 96

3. Dillard University 91 (2)

4. Southern University at New Orleans 79

5. Rust College 75

6. Stillman College 72

7. Wilberforce University 44

8. Tougaloo College 43

9. Philander Smith University 41 (1)

10. Voorhees University 40

11. Oakwood University 20

Fans can keep up with the action at HBCUAC.org. The 2025 Hope Credit Union HBCUAC Championship will be April 30-May 4. The top eight teams will qualify. The location is to be announced.

-HBCUAC-

About HBCU Athletic Conference
The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) is the only HBCU conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The HBCUAC membership includes Dillard University (LA), Fisk University (TN), Oakwood University (AL), Philander Smith University (AR), Rust College (MS), Southern University at New Orleans (LA), Stillman College (AL), Talladega College (AL), Tougaloo College (MS), University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Voorhees University (SC), Wilberforce University (OH), and Wiley University (TX). HBCUAC sponsors championships in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track and field, women's volleyball, softball, and baseball. In 2022, the HBCUAC secured the largest media rights deal in conference and NAIA history, signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Urban Edge Network. On July 1, 2024, the conference rebranded from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) to the HBCU Athletic Conference, marking a new era for the conference that embodies the makeup of its membership. For more information, visit hbcuac.org.