For Bethune-Cookman baseball head coach Jonathan Hernandez, the past two weeks have been more than a pair of statement wins.
They’ve been proof that his Wildcats program belongs among the country’s elite.
Coming off back-to-back midweek victories over SEC powers LSU and Florida, Hernandez said the wins underscore how far the program has come—and how much higher it’s climbing.
“I feel good about the team,” Hernandez told HBCU Sports in a phone interview on Wednesday. “It’s always great when you’re able to take down two SEC powerhouse teams. We’re having a good season, we’re at the top of the SWAC standings, and we’re just taking care of business day by day.”
The Wildcats (26-11) erupted for 23 runs combined against the Tigers and Gators, flexing offensive depth against the nation’s top pitching staffs. More importantly, Hernandez said, the results validate the work that’s gone into building a roster capable of competing beyond the SWAC, where it is 12-3.
“I think it speaks volumes about the makeup of our program,” Hernandez said. “The type of baseball we’re playing right now is at a high level—some would even say elite. There’s good baseball in the SWAC, and we’re showing that HBCUs can produce at that level. The trajectory of our program keeps going upward.”
That rise has been fueled by experience and continuity. Nearly the bulk of the roster from last year’s SWAC championship and NCAA regional team returned, alongside a coaching staff that’s been intact for four seasons.
Program stability has been key to Bethune-Cookman success
Hernandez credited that stability with sustaining the program’s consistency.
“You can’t substitute experience,” he said. “That continuity—both with our staff and our players—has been huge. Everyone knows what we’re about, and we’ve grown together.”
Perhaps most striking, the Wildcats secured their latest wins without leaning on their weekend starting pitchers, Edwin Sanchez, Harbersting Abreu, or Tanner Boccabello.
Hernandez said that’s a testament to the depth of a pitching staff that runs much deeper than the front-end rotation.
“It speaks volumes about the quality of depth that we have,” he said. “Everyone in the SWAC knows we’ve got good arms, but the fact that guys can come out and perform like that in midweek games shows how strong our staff really is.”
The pitching staff is among the national leaders in ERA at 4.50 as of Wednesday. That ranks higher than pitching-rich Michigan, Wake Forest, and Rice.
B-CU earning national respect
The team’s recent success against SEC opponents has sparked online chatter about whether Bethune-Cookman should be ranked nationally. Hernandez, however, said his focus remains internal.
“If it happens, great,” he said about the topic. “But being ranked doesn’t change how we go about our business. Our job is to put a competitive product on the field and shine a positive light on Bethune-Cookman University.”
Despite the growing attention, Hernandez insists his team is keeping perspective. It’s part of a culture he’s built around discipline and balance—what he calls a “zero-zero mentality.”
“Every day is opening day for us,” Hernandez said. “Whether it’s a win or a loss, we punch the clock. When we win, we celebrate; when we lose, it’s an opportunity for growth. The next day, we’re back to 0–0. The three C’s we talk about—calm, cool, collective—define who we are. No day is bigger than the one you’re in.”
In the unpredictable world of college baseball, that even-keeled approach could be what steadies Bethune-Cookman through the stretch—and perhaps into another postseason deep run.
