BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Alabama A&M University junior outfielder Brycen Hammonds was selected to the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Baseball Preseason Second Team, the conference announced on Monday.
 
Hammonds was second last season in batting, hitting .316 in 174 plate appearances. He was tied for the team lead in hits, with 55 and registered seven doubles, two home runs and two triples, while slugging .414. The Madison, Ala. native scored 37 times and drove in 32. In addition, he drew 22 walks, was hit 10 times and went 18-of-20 in stolen base attempts.
 
Jackson State's Jordan McCladdie was selected the conference preseason player of the year, while Caleb Granger, of Florida A&M, was tabbed the preseason player of the year.
 
In the preseason predicted order of finish, Alabama A&M recorded 47 points and was chosen 10^th. Grambling State, the SWAC Baseball Tournament champions, was predicted to win the conference with seven first-place votes and 156 points. 
 
Bethune-Cookman (150) was chosen second, followed by Jackson State (146), Alabama State (142), Florida A&M (140), Southern (119), Texas Southern (103), Prairie View A&M (87) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (58). Alcorn State garnered 42 points and was selected 11^th, while Mississippi Valley State (40) rounded out the 12-team conference.
 
Alabama A&M opens the season on Friday in the Cactus Jack HBUC Classic as the Bulldogs face Prairie View A&M at 3 p.m. from Minute Maid Field in Houston, Texas. AAMU will play Jackson State on Saturday (11 a.m.) and conclude the weekend against Grambling State (11 a.m.).
 
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