Jonathan Logsdon named first team All-American, top second baseman in Division II

ALBANY — Albany State second baseman Jonathan Logsdon has been selected as a first-team All-American and is rated the top second baseman in the nation in Division II baseball.

“I never really paid attention to the numbers this season or was looking for accolades,” Logsdon said Thursday afternoon. “I’m excited to earn this, but honestly, what I was out to do was to be the best I could to help my team win.”

And win they did. Logsdon’s performance on the field helped the Golden Rams win the regular season SIAC title by putting together a 30-3 regular season SIAC record. They were knocked out of the tournament in the semi-finals by Savannah State, but Logsdon’s numbers show why he was selected as an All-American. As the team’s lead-off batter, he hit .460 for the season with a .582 slugging percentage. He scored 74 runs and collected 85 hits during the season, including 20 doubles.

“Being a first Team All-American is one of the highest honors a player can achieve,” Albany State head coach Scot Hemmings said. “I have said it all season, it will be impossible to replace a player like Jonathan Logsdon. It was a lot of fun to sit and watch one of the best college seasons that I have ever seen. It was also enjoyable to see such a fine young man have a season to remember in his final season

“We will miss his bat and glove next year, but will miss his leadership even more,” Hemmings continued. “I know Jonathan will be very successful in his future endeavors and hope he will stay in the game and make a career out of coaching.”

Logsdon graduated from Lee County High School in 2018 and went on to play at Santa Fe Community College near Gainesville, Florida. He transferred to West Georgia in Carrolton but later transferred to Albany State.

“I went to West Georgia because I wanted to play Division I baseball,” Logsdon said. “But it really wasn’t a good fit for me. It just didn’t work, so I got back into the transfer portal and Coach Hemmings reached out to me. I looked for other opportunities at first but ended up calling Coach Hemmings. Boy, am I glad I did.”

Logsdon said his playing days are over and now he is looking to coach.

“I hurt my shoulder during the tournament,” he said. “But I decided before the season started that this would be my last year playing. I’ve made peace with it. I still want to be able to put a jersey on and be on the field but as a coach, not a player.”

Logsdon said he has had some schools interested in talking about coaching, but he is looking to coach at the collegiate level.

“I want to coach at the collegiate level because I know the language of those players. I know what they need and can motivate them,” he said.

Logsdon credits Hemmings and the staff at Albany State for helping him get to the All-American status.

“Coach Hemmings and all the staff at Albany State know what they are doing,” Logsdon said. “At Albany State, it’s not about one person, it’s about the team and it works. We were all there for the same reason — we were one unit. And that’s the way it should be.”

By Joe Whitfield
Sports EditorJoeWhitfield[email protected]