DeBarge Named SBC Preseason Player of the Year

NEW ORLEANS – Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns junior shortstop Kyle DeBarge highlighted the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Baseball team as he was picked by the league's head coaches as the Preseason Player of the Year, the conference office announced on Wednesday.

Louisiana, which finished 41-24 last season and advanced to the NCAA Coral Gables Regional, was picked fourth overall in the SBC Preseason Poll. The Ragin' Cajuns received two first-place votes and 159 points with Coastal Carolina (12 first-place vote), Southern Miss and Troy selected ahead.

DeBarge, named to the All-Sun Belt team in 2023 and a 2024 Preseason All-America pick by Perfect Game, led Louisiana in hitting with a .371 average while pacing the team in on-base percentage (.448). He finished second overall in hits (76), slugging percentage (.546) and hit by pitch (10).

In 54 games played, DeBarge belted seven home runs and drove in 38 RBI. He recorded a 13-game hit streak during the season where he posted a .386 average (22-for-57).

DeBarge had nine, three-hit games during the season beginning with a 3-for-4 performance with three runs scored against BYU (2/23). He belted a pair of home runs and was 3-for-5 with four RBI against High Point (3/10)

In the SBC Championships, DeBarge was 10-for-21 (.476) in the Sun Belt Conference Championships. DeBarge finished 3-for-5 at the plate with a home run, three RBI and a pair of runs scored against Maine (6/3) in the NCAA Coral Gables Regional and played for the Falmouth Commodores in the Cape Cod League finishing with a .267 average with 15 RBI.

Louisiana will officially open its 2024 season on Friday, February 16 against Wright State in a three-game series at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park. Fans may purchase tickets at RaginCajuns.com/tickets or by calling the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at (337) 482-GoUL (4685).

Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.

For the latest updates on Ragin' Cajuns baseball, follow on Facebook (RaginCajunsBaseball), Twitter (@RaginCajunsBSB) and Instagram (@RaginCajunsBSB) or check RaginCajuns.com.

2024 SUN BELT CONFERENCE BASEBALL PRESEASON AWARDS
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kyle DeBarge, Louisiana (Jr., SS – Kinder, La.)

PRESEASON PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Grayson Stewart, Troy (Jr., SP – Dothan, Ala.)

Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
Niko Mazza, Southern Miss (Jr., SP – Madison, Miss.)
Billy Oldham, Southern Miss (Sr., SP – Brookfield, Conn.)
Grayson Stewart, Troy (Jr., SP – Dothan, Ala.)
Noah Manning, Troy (Sr., RP – Minooka, Ill.)
Caden Bodine, Coastal Carolina (So., C – Haddon Heights, N.J.)
Zack Beach, Coastal Carolina (Gr., 1B – Mechanicsville, Va.)
Chase Mora, Texas State (So., 2B – Tomball, Texas)
Kyle DeBarge, Louisiana (Jr., SS – Kinder, La.)
Jarrett Brown, Georgia Southern (Sr., 3B – Savannah, Ga.)
CJ Boyd, App State (Sr., OF – Lewisville, N.C.)
Fenwick Trimble, James Madison (Jr., OF – Virginia Beach, Va.)
Shane Lewis, Troy (Jr., OF – Vicksburg, Miss.)
Derek Bender, Coastal Carolina (Jr., DH – Murrells Inlet, S.C.)
Sam Blancato, Georgia Southern (RS Sr., UT – Marietta, Ga.)

2024 SUN BELT CONFERENCE BASEBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Coastal Carolina (12) – 193
2. Southern Miss – 173
3. Troy – 164
4. Louisiana (2) – 159
5. Texas State – 138
6. Old Dominion – 115
7. Georgia Southern – 99
8. South Alabama – 98
9. App State – 82
10. James Madison – 79
11. Georgia State – 78
12. Marshall – 34
13. ULM – 33
14. Arkansas State – 25

DeBarge Named SBC Preseason Player of the Year

Players Mentioned

Kyle DeBarge

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