Baseball | 5/20/2025 6:46:00 PM

GREENSBORO – The North Carolina A&T baseball team had one of the best freshman classes in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA).

Now, the proof is in. The CAA announced its postseason accolades on Tuesday, and two A&T freshmen earned second-team All-CAA honors in shortstop JT Taylor and second baseman Tyler Smith.  Fellow freshman Bruce Wyche joined Taylor and Smith on the CAA's All-Rookie Team.

Each player who received recognition on Tuesday earned a rookie of the week honor from the CAA during the season, starting with Taylor on February 17. Taylor batted .297 for the season with a team-leading 11 home runs and 40 RBIs.

Taylor also led the team in doubles (14), triples (3), slugging percentage (.559), at-bats (202), and total bases (113). He had a .905 on-base plus slugging percentage and scored 38 runs. Taylor had 19 multiple-hit games and recorded three or more RBIs in a game six times during the season. He ranked 10th in the league in home runs and fourth in triples.

Smith led the team in batting average at .323. Smith is also the only Aggie to play all 52 games in 2025. He earned his CAA Rookie of the Week honor on March 24 after batting .389 (9-22) with two doubles, a home run, eight RBIs, and nine runs scored in five starts. In addition, he helped the Aggies rally from a 7-0 deficit against William & Mary that week to win 11-8 with his two-run RBI single in the fourth to tie the game 8-8.

During the season, Smith posted 13 doubles, two triples, nine homers, 36 RBIs, and 39 runs scored. Smith led the team in on-base plus slugging percentage (.956), slugging percentage (.542) and on-base percentage (.414).

Wyche batted .265 during the season, earning rookie of the week accolades on April 14. Wyche went 10-for-20 during the week with two home runs, raising his batting average 43 points. Wyche, who primarily served as the Aggies leadoff man, led the team with 47 runs scored. He also had seven doubles, two triples, nine home runs, and 29 RBIs. He was hit-by-pitch 16 times, second most in the CAA.

"I'm super proud of JT, Tyler and Bruce," said A&T head coach Ben Hall. "They all deserve recognition for the years they had. It's unique and exciting to have young players make impacts that early in their careers.

The most impressive thing is their collective makeup. All three of those guys are top performers off the field, too. The future is really bright with that core to build around."