BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Bethune-Cookman baseball capped off a dominant regular season by earning an eye-popping ten SWAC postseason award honors. For the second-straight season, Head Coach Jonathan Hernandez was named Southwestern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. Meanwhile, Jose Fernandez earned SWAC Player of the Year and Edwin Sanchez received SWAC Pitcher of the Year as announced by the conference Tuesday night prior to the SWAC Tournmanet opener. Along with Fernandez and Sanchez, Maikol Lucena, Andrey Martinez, and Michael Rodriguez made All-SWAC First Team, while Darryl Lee, Erick Almonte, and Pablo Torres were honored on the All-SWAC Second Team.

Jonathan Hernandez led Bethune-Cookman to one of the most successful regular seasons in program history during the 2026 campaign. The Wildcats posted a 36-17 overall record and a 22-7 mark in SWAC play, currently holding the top seed in the conference standings. The 36 victories established a new program record for regular season wins. Under Hernandez's leadership, Bethune-Cookman earned ranked wins over SEC opponents LSU and Florida while also completing a season sweep of USF. The Wildcats developed into one of the most complete teams in the country on both sides of the ball. Bethune-Cookman finished among the nation's top 25 offenses in runs scored and led the SWAC in runs scored, hits, doubles, home runs, total bases, slugging percentage and stolen bases. On the mound, the Wildcats also led the conference in ERA and strikeouts.

Jose Fernandez emerged as one of the SWAC's premier offensive threats for Bethune-Cookman this season. The redshirt junior played in 53 games and batted .351 while tallying 12 doubles, 11 home runs, and 49 RBI. He delivered several clutch performances throughout the year, including two grand slams and a two-home run outing in a victory over Florida A&M. He also achieved an 18-game hitting streak. Defensively, Fernandez showcased his versatility by splitting time between first base and catcher, posting an impressive .987 fielding percentage with just two errors on the season. 

Edwin Sanchez delivered a dominant season as one of the premier arms in the SWAC, anchoring Bethune-Cookman's league-best pitching staff. The senior ace finished with an impressive 11–1 record and a 2.69 ERA over 73.2 innings pitched, consistently setting the tone on the mound. He led the team with 72 strikeouts while holding opposing hitters to a .200 batting average. Against SWAC competition, Sanchez went perfect 8–0 without a loss in conference play. He also provided dependable length throughout the year, working at least five innings in 10 of his starts. One of his most memorable performances came at the Andre Dawson Classic against Florida A&M, where he came within reach of a no-hitter, allowing just one hit and one run across eight innings while striking out seven. 

Maikol Lucena quickly established himself as one of the premier catchers in Division I baseball this season. A force at the plate, he ranked among the SWAC's top hitters, batting .342 with a team-leading 66 hits across 53 games while adding 10 doubles, 45 RBI, and 43 runs scored. Defensively, Lucena was exceptional behind the plate, throwing out 23 attempted base stealers to deliver one of the most dominant seasons by a catcher in recent memory. He also posted a stellar .987 fielding percentage, committing just five errors all season. 

Andrey Martinez delivered another standout campaign as one of the Wildcats' premier power hitters. He led Bethune-Cookman with 14 home runs while posting an impressive .324/.397/.638 slash line. Martinez also totaled 14 doubles, one triple, and a team-best 118 total bases, consistently providing a spark in the middle of the lineup. Defensively, he anchored the hot corner at third base, finishing with a .914 fielding percentage and recording 57 assists on the season.

Michael Rodriguez established himself as one of the SWAC's most dominant hitters throughout the season, putting together an exceptional offensive campaign. He posted a remarkable .413 batting average with 59 hits across 50 games while consistently impacting games at the plate. He recorded 11 doubles, three triples, two home runs, and 39 RBI. Rodriguez reached base at a staggering .573 clip, drawing 36 walks against just 22 strikeouts. He also scored 49 runs and added 15 stolen bases. Defensively in right field, Rodriguez was steady and reliable, committing just one error on the year while recording two outfield assists. 

Darryl Lee continued to be a key catalyst at the top of the Wildcats' lineup, turning in another strong offensive season as Bethune-Cookman's primary leadoff hitter. The senior paced the team with 16 doubles while adding four triples, five home runs, and 34 RBI. Lee consistently found ways to get on base, posting an outstanding .492 on-base percentage and leading the club with 52 walks. He also added speed on the basepaths with 13 stolen bases in 16 attempts. Defensively, Lee was outstanding in left field, finishing with a .990 fielding percentage and collecting four outfield assists.

Erick Almonte provided a steady presence for Bethune-Cookman both offensively and defensively throughout the season. The senior transfer started in 53 games and batted .310 while recording 14 doubles, two triples, three home runs, and 42 RBI. He also showcased excellent plate discipline, posting a .445 on-base percentage behind 41 walks, while adding 14 stolen bases in 18 attempts. Defensively, Almonte anchored the middle infield primarily at shortstop while also seeing time at second base. He finished the year with a .939 fielding percentage and helped the Wildcats turn 32 double plays. 

Pablo Torres reaffirmed his status as one of the SWAC's premier bullpen arms with another strong and reliable season out of the bullpen. The senior finished with a 2–2 record and a 3.13 ERA across 23.0 innings pitched, consistently handling high-leverage situations for the Wildcats. He led the team with four saves while striking out 26 batters and limiting opposing hitters to a .247 average. Torres delivered one of his most impactful performances in a win over Florida A&M, where he worked 2.1 scoreless innings on just two hits, struck out three, and secured the save to close out the victory.

Bethune-Cookman will look to carry over its regular season success into the SWAC Tournament as they begin the postseason against the eighth-seeded UAPB Golden Lions. The tourny opener begins at 7 p.m. EST.