Earl Sanders is part of Jackson State baseball royalty. And in a few months, he’ll be celebrated nationally as a College Baseball Hall of Fame inductee after the Black College Legends and Pioneers Committee voted Mr. Sanders into the 2026 class. “I’m still in disbelief,” he said. That’s probably how a lot of opponents felt when meeting Mr. Sanders on the diamond during his Jackson State years from 1984-86.

Paine College has named Joshua Cruz as its next head baseball coach, replacing Melvin “Kerby” Marshall who took a similar position at Dillard University last month. Coach Cruz graduated from Paine in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems while playing baseball, primarily as a second baseman. During his four-year college career, Cruz also pitched and in his senior season, led his Lion teammates to the Black College World Series in Montgomery, Alabama.

Melvin “Kerby” Marshall has been named the new head baseball coach at New Orleans, Louisiana’s Dillard University, taking over the position previously held by A. Rashad White. Prior to his appointment, Coach Marshall had been both the head baseball and basketball coach at Paine College, but will only be coaching baseball at Dillard University. Kerby Marshall served as the head coach of the Paine College Lions baseball program beginning in 2012 and before that led Edward Waters College (now Edward Waters University) baseball from 2005 through the 2011 season. 

The 2025-2026 school year has either begun or will be starting soon at colleges and universities across the country, which means that new campuses await a number of Black College Nines’ “Elites”. Just like last year, the transfer portal was filled with talented ballplayers from HBCUs on the move (for a list of some of last year’s BCN All-Elite transfers, click…

Alabama A&M University Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Paul A. Bryant announced on Wednesday that he removed the interim tag and promoted head baseball coach Louis Whitlow. "Coach Whitlow possesses all of the characteristics we were seeking to lead the Alabama A&M University baseball program," Bryant said. "Those include coaching ability, passion, energy, program knowledge, character, integrity and his ties to Alabama A&M."

All four 2025 HBCU MLB draft picks have signed professional contracts. Kameron Douglas, a 20th round draft pick of the Detroit Tigers, signed his professional contract on July 20th. Broedy Poppell, a 13th round draft pick of the San Francisco Giants, signed his professional contract on July 22nd. Juan Cruz, a 20th round draft pick of the Washington Nationals, signed his professional contract on July 23rd.

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – Prairie View A&M University Athletics is excited to announce the hiring of Daniel Dulin as the new head coach of the Panthers baseball program. Dulin joins PVAMU from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), where he served as an assistant coach. With more than a decade of collegiate coaching experience at both the NCAA Division I and junior college levels, Dulin brings a proven track record of success, player development, and championship-caliber leadership.

Four members of Black College Nines' 2025 Large School First-Team "Elites", including its Player of the Year, have been selected in the recently completed Major League Draft. The first one selected in the 2025 draft was BCN's elite catcher, Broedy Poppell of Florida A&M University.  Poppell was taken in the 13th round (the 386th player picked) by the San Francisco Giants.

Maroon Tiger shortstop makes history with national honor recognizing leadership, excellence, and service ATLANTA, Ga. — Morehouse College proudly announces that senior scholar-athlete Elijah Pinckney has been named the recipient of the 2025 T-Mobile Impact Award, presented at the HBCU Swingman Classic held Friday night in Atlanta, Georgia, during a nationally televised event. Pinckney becomes the first NCAA Division II player to win the prestigious honor, which recognizes one HBCU student-athlete each year for their outstanding contributions in athletics, academics, leadership, and community engagement.

ATLANTA — Under the bright lights, the third annual HBCU Swingman Classic at Truist Park delivered a night of passion, power, and pride, as the National League squad stormed back from a 4-1 deficit to defeat the American League team 7–4 in a nationally televised showcase of elite talent from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Led by Jay Campbell’s game-tying two-run home run in the seventh and DeMarckus Smiley’s go-ahead RBI in the eighth, the NL used timely hitting and power pitching to claim victory in front of a crowd that included MLB legends, scouts, and proud HBCU alumni.

Norfolk State Vice President and Director of Athletics Melody Webb announced the hiring of Merrill "M.L." Morgan as the sixth head coach of the NSU baseball program on Wednesday afternoon. A dedicated leader with an abundance of coaching experience across the collegiate and professional levels, Morgan has helped several programs and organizations achieve historic success. He has compiled an overall record of 254-117 (.685) as a member of multiple coaching staffs, winning four regular season titles and one conference tournament championship.

June 17, 2025 ATLANTA, GA | Morehouse College is proud to announce that junior shortstop Elijah Pinckney has made history as the first NCAA Division II player ever selected to participate in the prestigious 2025 HBCU Swingman Classic, scheduled for Friday, July 11 at 7 p.m. ET at Truist Park during MLB All‑Star Week. Pinckney earned his spot among 50 elite HBCU athletes following a phenomenal season with the Maroon Tigers:

As announced on June 16th, the upcoming 2025 Major League Baseball All-Star Game weekend will open with its third annual HBCU Swingman Classic to be played in Atlanta, Georgia at Truist Stadium on Friday, July 11, 2025. The HBCU Swingman Classic highlights the history and legacy of Historically Black College and University baseball programs with 50 NCAA Division One HBCU baseball players getting the opportunity to showcase their talent on a national stage.

The 2025 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association’s 25th annual Division I All-America first, second and third teams were announced on June 11th and it includes both Juan Cruz of Alabama State University and Cardell Thibodeaux of Southern University on its third team.  Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. At the end of May, Juan Cruz was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference Co-Hitter of the Year and first team All-SWAC, while Cardell Thibodeaux was chosen Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, as well as first team All-SWAC.

Thirty-three HBCU baseball players have been named to the Black College Nines’ Large School Elite teams for the 2025 season. Additional recognition is given to our Player, Pitcher, Freshman, Coach and SID of the Year.  First and second team selections are made up of student-athletes from NCAA Division I baseball programs. Thirteen of the seventeen large schools are represented this year with Alabama State leading the way with six selections overall, besting Bethune-Cookman by one.

This year, with a record number of HBCU "small schools" competing (37), Black College Nines is adding a third team of all-elites to this division. Forty-nine HBCU baseball players have been named to the Black College Nines’ Small School Elite teams for the 2025 season. Additional recognition is given to our Player, Pitcher, Freshman, Coach and SID of the Year.  First, second and third team selections are made up of student-athletes from NCAA Division II, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, and National Christian College Athletic Association baseball programs.

The 2025 NAIA Baseball All-America Team was announced on June 4th and it includes first-teamer Miguel Oropeza of Talladega College holding down the first base position.  Selections were made by the American Baseball Coaches Association and the NAIA Baseball Coaches Association All-America Committee.  The ABCA first began naming an NAIA All-America team in 1969. Miguel Oropeza, is a two-time Black College Nines "small school" Player of the Year and the reigning Historically Black College and University Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) MVP.

5/25/2025 ATLANTA, Ga.- Former Savannah State University baseball standout Dexter Kelley made his Major League Baseball debut on Friday night as a member of the officiating crew of the game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres at Truist Park. It was the first game of a three-game series between the Braves and Padres. Kelly, 36, was the second base umpire on Friday, worked first base on Saturday and will be behind home plate on Sunday as the series wraps up.

The American Baseball Coaches Association in conjunction with the Rawlings Sporting Goods Company annually selects all-region teams and in the NCAA Division II classification, six student-athletes from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were honored on May 28, 2025. From the Atlantic Region: Nathan Paulsen, Outfielder, of West Virginia State earned second team honors. From the South Region: Kendal Spencer…

Bethune-Cookman University and Talladega College claim Black College Nines 2025 Baseball Crowns. Bethune-Cookman University and Talladega College sit atop the final Black College Nines Historically Black College and University (HBCU) “large school” and “small school” top 10 polls of 2025 presented by Guardian Baseball and announced on May 28, 2025. Each now can claim an HBCU national baseball title. Jackson State, Alabama State and Florida A&M (for two straight polls) held the top spot in the first four regular season rankings, before Bethune-Cookman moved to the top and then never relinquished it over the next five large school polls.

A.D. Drew | Black College Nines Contributor Friday, May 30, 2025 | Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium | Tallahassee, FL | 3 PM ET on ACC Network TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Tallahassee Regional kicks off Friday with a Sunshine State showdown as the ninth-ranked national seed and host Florida State Seminoles (38–14) face SWAC Champion Bethune-Cookman (37–21) at noon.

A.D. Drew | Black College Nines Contributor Sunday, May 25 | Rickwood Field – Birmingham, Ala.  Every kid who has played baseball has imagined hitting the walk-off homerun (a la Joe Carter, circa 1993) to win the World Series. The SWAC baseball tournament may not be the World Series, but for HBCU baseball fans, it’s a close second.  In an instant classic at historic Rickwood Field, Bethune-Cookman clinched the 2025 SWAC Baseball Tournament championship with a dramatic walk-off three-run home run by Andrey Martinez, as BCU trailed Florida A&M 9-8 in the bottom of the ninth, to defeat FAMU 11-9.

A.D. Drew | Black College Nines Contributor Sunday, May 25 | Rickwood Field – Birmingham, Ala. | 1:00 PM CT The 2025 SWAC Baseball Tournament comes down to one final showdown as No. 1 seed Bethune-Cookman (36–21, 24–5 SWAC) faces off with No. 2 seed Florida A&M (33–24, 24–6 SWAC) in a winner-take-all championship clash.  Two years removed from FAMU’s championship triumph over BCU, the narrative has flipped: the Rattlers enter having lost seven of their last nine meetings with the Wildcats — including five straight.

A.D. Drew | Black College Nines Contributor Rickwood Field, Birmingham, AL – May 24, 2025 Florida A&M punched its ticket to Sunday’s SWAC Championship game in commanding fashion, defeating Grambling State 9–1 in the “if necessary” semifinal matchup at Rickwood Field. The win avenged FAMU’s Friday night loss to the Tigers and closed out Bracket B, setting the Rattlers up for a title clash with Bethune-Cookman.

A.D. Drew | Black College Nines Contributor Rickwood Field, Birmingham, AL – May 23, 2025 Day three of the SWAC Baseball Tournament delivered high-stakes drama, powerful offensive surges, and extra-inning heroics as teams battled for the right to reach Championship Sunday. Bethune-Cookman emerged from Bracket A in walk-off fashion, while Grambling State forced a decisive “if necessary” matchup in Bracket B with back-to-back elimination victories.