The HBCU Athletic Conference announced its 2025 baseball award recipients and all-conference Wednesday, coinciding with the first day of the league tournament in Little Rock, Ark. Senior Miguel Oropeza headlined the Tornadoes honored by claiming MVP and Hitter of the Year honors. Talladega's Marcos Dominguez was named Coach of the Year and Jorge Rodriguez was chosen as Assistant Coach of the Year. The Tornadoes placed five on the First team All-Conference list and two earned Second Team selections.

Oropeza had a banner year for Talladega. The first baseman won the HBCUAC triple crown, leading the league in homeruns (15), batting average (.535) and RBI (75). Oropeza was the only player in the conference to hit more than 10 homeruns, the only player to hit above .500 and the only player to drive in more than 50 runs. The HBCUAC is the second conference Oropeza has been named the MVP of, after taking home the honors in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference last year.

Dominguez, in his ninth season at the helm of the Tornadoes, led his team to the HBCUAC regular season title with a conference record of 27-3, and 38-12 overall. Dominguez paired with Rodriguez to form a formidable staff, one that guided Talladega to the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament and has the Tornadoes one win shy of a program record for wins in a season.

Along with Oropeza, catcher Armando Jackson, shortstop Jederick Velazquez, outfielder Jahir Cruz and starting pitcher Emilio Duque were First Team All-HBCUAC selections. Jackson was second on the team and tied for third in the league with nine homeruns. He drove in 48 runs, also second-best on the team behind just Oropeza, and fourth in the HBCUAC.

Velazquez was a key offensive contributor and the anchor of Talladega's infield. The freshman hit .410 and had more walks than strikeouts across his first collegiate regular season. Of the Tornadoes seven all-conference selections, Velazquez is the only freshman.

Cruz provided Talladega with speed, durability and elite bat-to-ball skills throughout his senior campaign. Cruz played in 42 games, starting 39. He hit .395, worked 25 walks compared to just 21 strikeouts and stole 22 bases on 25 attempts.

Duque was the only Talladega pitcher to be honored by the conference. The Texan had a sparkling junior season, leading the team with a 2.81 ERA, which ranked second in the HBCUAC. Duque's nine were also second in the league, behind just his teammate Samuel Guadamuz, and his 63 strikeouts placed fifth.

Second baseman Victor Rivera and outfielder Isaac Guzman made the All-HBCUAC Second Team. Rivera posted a .472 on-base percentage, and used those opportunities to steal a league-best 42 bases across 46 games. Rivera, a sophomore, is the only other underclassman honoree for Talladega, along with Velazquez.

Guzman hit .413 on the season, the third-highest mark on the team among players who appeared in at least 30 games, trailing Oropeza and Velazquez. The senior walked 17 times and struck out just 10, plus added four homeruns and eight stolen bases.

Talladega began its HBCUAC Baseball Championship slate with a 9-0 win over Wilberforce University Wednesday. The Tornadoes are back in action on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. against Dillard University in Little Rock.