A trio of the top SWAC baseball players will be able to showcase their skills in front of professional scouts among the nation’s top college and high school baseball players.
Alabama State infielder Juan Cruz, Florida A&M catcher Broedy Poppell and Southern outfielder Cardell Thibodeaux were three of 322 draft-eligible players invited to the 2025 MLB Draft Combine this week.
Cruz played in 60 games with 60 starts, hitting .420 with 23 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs, and 73 RBI (3rd SWAC). He slugged .690 with a .480 on-base percentage.
The SWAC co-Hitter of the Year led the NCAA with 106 hits while ranking No. 2 in the NCAA in hits per game (1.77) and fifth in total bases (174). Cruz has since entered the transfer portal and committed to Georgia.
In 2024, Poppell had a .325 batting average and led the Rattlers with 69 hits, 58 RBI, and 12 home runs.
Thibodeaux finished his season first in the country in slugging percentage (.847), second in batting average (.439) and second in on-base percentage (.544). He also has 73 runs scored, 71 RBIs 18 home runs, which are first, fifth and second in the SWAC, respectively.
He was also named the 2025 SWAC Player of the Year and SWAC Newcomer of the Year and All-SWAC Baseball First Team.
The rosters for the 2025 HBCU Swingman Classic are here!
Cardell Thibodeaux of Southern University and MLBPA consultant Reggie Waller joined Harold to preview this year’s event and the importance it plays within baseball. pic.twitter.com/MxBeENnZvZ
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) June 17, 2025
All players will have the opportunity to participate in a pro-style showcase workout and strength and performance assessments.
The draft combine will take place from June 17-19. For the third consecutive year, it will be hosted at Chase Field in Phoenix, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
As part of the Combine experience, attendees will benefit from the opportunity to interview and interact directly with Major League Club general managers and scouting directors and from an enhanced medical evaluation process.
Participants at the MLB Draft Combine will have opportunities to be featured on MLB social media channels. They will also receive personal branding training and access to real-time content and custom video for their own platforms.
MLB Network will have exclusive live coverage from Chase Field throughout the week.
