Baseball | 5/19/2026 6:35:00 PM
Birmingham, AL — Arkansas-Pine Bluff baseball came away from the 2026 Southwestern Athletic Conference postseason awards with a pair of standout honorees, as senior right-hander Kenney Fabian and freshman infielder Aaron Grant each earned well-deserved recognition for what were two of the most impactful individual seasons in recent Golden Lions history. Fabian was named to the All-SWAC Second Team as a Starting Pitcher, while Grant earned All-SWAC Second Team honors at Second Base and was named the conference's Freshman of the Year, a remarkable double that underscored just how much the Golden Lions grew into one of the more complete rosters in the SWAC this season.
For Kenney Fabian, the 2026 season was the continuation of a career that has quietly positioned him as one of the most reliable and durable starting pitchers in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The senior led the entire conference in innings pitched, taking the ball in 16 appearances and making 14 starts while logging 81.1 frames, a number that stood first in the SWAC and reflected the kind of durability that coaching staffs covet in a true front-line starter. Over the course of those innings, Fabian struck out 56 batters, posted an opposing batting average of .260 that ranked 5th in the conference, and completed two games, a mark that tied him for 12th nationally and placed him among a select group of starters across the country still capable of going the full nine. His 18 hit batters ranked him among the most aggressive attack-the-zone starters in the nation, a reflection of a pitcher who challenged hitters consistently and forced them to earn every baserunner rather than settling for the edges of the zone. Over the course of his career at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Fabian made 28 starts, threw 165.2 innings, and accumulated 117 strikeouts across two seasons in a Golden Lions uniform, finishing his time in Pine Bluff as one of the most accomplished pitchers the program has produced in recent years. The Second Team All-SWAC selection is a fitting recognition of a career defined by toughness, competitiveness, and an unwavering commitment to taking the ball and getting the job done.
If Fabian's recognition represents the capstone of a distinguished career, Aaron Grant's postseason hardware represents the beginning of what could be a very special one. The freshman second baseman was named to the All-SWAC Second Team at his position and took home the conference's Freshman of the Year award after delivering one of the most dominant debut seasons any first-year player has produced in the SWAC in recent memory. Grant slashed .353/.435/.593 across 49 games, numbers that would be impressive for any player in the conference regardless of class. His eight home runs and 49 RBI ranked among the conference leaders, his .616 slugging percentage placed him 7th in the entire SWAC, and his nine sacrifice flies ranked 2nd in the entire nation, a statistic that speaks to an advanced understanding of situational hitting that most freshmen take years to develop, if they develop it at all. He also contributed 46 runs scored, 12 doubles, two triples, and six stolen bases, painting the picture of a complete offensive player who impacted the Golden Lions' lineup in every way imaginable. With three years of eligibility remaining and a full season of SWAC experience already under his belt, what Aaron Grant showed in 2026 is not a ceiling. It is a foundation.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff's 2026 season was one of growth, production, and program-building moments, and the postseason recognition earned by Fabian and Grant serves as a reflection of both the individual excellence each player brought to the diamond and the direction the Golden Lions program continues to move. With a senior ace finishing his career on a high note and a freshman phenom just getting started, UAPB baseball made its presence felt in the SWAC this season in a way that will not soon be forgotten.
