FAMU baseball pitcher Garrett Workman named SWAC Freshman of the Year

Garrett Workman made the most of his opportunities in his first college baseball season.

And now he’s being rewarded for it.

On Tuesday, May 20, the Southwestern Athletic Conference named the first-year Florida A&M pitcher its Freshman of the Year.

Workman’s nod as the SWAC’s top Freshman comes a year removed from becoming the All-Big Bend Pitcher of the Year for his senior season at Tallahassee’s North Florida Christian.

Workman played a significant role for the Rattlers this season, emerging as the ace pitcher and Friday night starter after Caleb Granger, last year’s SWAC Pitcher of the Year, had a season-ending elbow injury in April.

On the mound, Workman had an 8-4 win-loss record for the Rattlers. The lefty had a 3.92 earned run average and 67 strikeouts in 80.1 innings pitched.

This season, FAMU was the SWAC’s third-best pitching team, with Carson Kelly and Jesus Campa joining Workman in the league’s top ten of the ERA statistical leaderboard.

Other FAMU baseball players who got SWAC postseason honors are Broedy Poppell, a catcher, and Jay Campbell at third base. Both made it on the All-SWAC First Team.

The Rattlers, riding an 11-game winning streak, finished the regular season 30-23, becoming FAMU’s third team to win 30 games before the postseason.

FAMU will open the SWAC Tournament as a two-seed and face the seven-seed Southern on Wednesday, May 21, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Birmingham’s Rickwood Field.

Fans can watch the eight-team, double elimination tournament on the SWAC Digital Network via YouTube.

The SWAC Championship game is on Sunday, May 25, at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. ESPN Plus will stream the title game.

SWAC Baseball 2025 Honors

Coach of the Year

Jonathan Hernandez, Bethune-Cookman

Player of the Year

Cardell Thibodeaux, Southern

Co-Hitter of the Year

Co-Hitter of the Year

Andrey Martinez, Bethune-Cookman

Pitcher of the Year

Relief Pitcher of the Year

Jean Carlos Zambrano, Bethune-Cookman

Freshman of the Year

Garrett Workman, Florida A&M

Newcomer of the Year

Cardell Thibodeaux, Southern

All-SWAC Baseball First Team

Catcher – Broedy Poppell, Florida A&MFirst Base – Juan Cruz, Alabama StateSecond Base – Jesus Vanegas, Bethune-CookmanThird Base – Jay Campbell, Florida A&MShortstop – Bryce Hughes, Texas SouthernDesignated Hitter – Taj Bates, SouthernOutfield – Cardell Thibodeaux, SouthernOutfield – Andrey Martinez, Bethune-CookmanOutfield – Kameron Douglas, Alabama StateStarting Pitcher – Eric Elliott, Jackson StateStarting Pitcher – Kenney Fabian, Arkansas-Pine BluffRelief Pitcher – Jean Carlos Zambrano, Bethune-Cookman

All-SWAC Baseball Second Team

Catcher – Chris Marcellus, Grambling StateFirst Base – Wilbert Perez, Jackson StateSecond Base – Alex Espaillat, Alabama StateThird Base – KJ White, SouthernShortstop – Jeter Polledo, Bethune-CookmanDesignated Hitter – Damian Garcia, Texas SouthernOutfield – Trey Rutledge, Alabama A&MOutfield – Darryl Lee, Bethune-CookmanOutfield – Jordan McCladdie, Jackson StateStarting Pitcher – Jorhan Laboy, Alabama StateStarting Pitcher – Edwin Sanchez, Bethune-CookmanStarting Pitcher – Nick Luckett, SouthernRelief Pitcher – Ethan Bates, Grambling StateRelief Pitcher – Peyton Huff, SouthernSWAC Baseball Tournament 2025 SeedingBethune-CookmanFlorida A&MAlabama StateArkansas-Pine BluffGrambling StateJackson StateSouthernTexas SouthernSWAC Baseball Tournament 2025 Schedule

Wednesday, May 21

Game 1 – No. 1 Bethune-Cookman vs. No. 8 Texas Southern, 10:00 a.m.Game 2 – No. 2 Florida A&M vs. No. 7 Southern, 1:00 p.m.Game 3 – No. 3 Alabama State vs. No. 6 Jackson State, 4:00 p.m.Game 4 – No. 4 Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. No. 5 Grambling State, 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, May 22

Game 5 – Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 3, 10:00 a.m.Game 6 – Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 4, 1:00 p.m.Game 7 – Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 3, 4:00 p.m.Game 8 – Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 4, 7:00 p.m.

Friday, May 23

Game 9 – Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 7, 10:00 a.m.Game 10 – Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 8, 1:00 p.m.Game 11 – Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9, 4:00 p.m.Game 12 – Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 8, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 24 (If Necessary)

Game 11b – Loser Game 11 vs. Winner Game 11, 1:00 p.m.Game 12b – Loser Game 12 vs. Winner Game 12. 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 25

Game 13 – Championship Game, 2:00 p.m.

All times listed Eastern Standard Time (EST)

Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.

Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.