D1BASEBALL – Indiana State's Randal Diaz and Luis Hernandez were named among the top players in their position by D1Baseball as the organization announced their Week 6 Positional Rankings this week.
 
Diaz was named the No. 20 shortstop in the NCAA Division I, while Hernandez checked in as the No. 46 first baseman through the opening part of the 2024 season. Diaz moved up one position from his preseason ranking of No. 21 announced by the organization back on February 5.
 
Diaz has been among the top hitters on the Sycamores this season serving as the primary leadoff batter for the Indiana State offense. The Toa Alta, Puerto Rico native is hitting .313 from the plate sitting second on the team with 30 hits, while tying for the team lead with six doubles. He's added five home runs and 20 RBIs, while posting a .531 slugging percentage and .393 on-base percentage.
 
Diaz is second on the team with nine multi-hit games and posted a 12-game on-base streak this season and has reached base safely in all but two games in 2024. The Sycamore shortstop is one of four players on the ISU roster to start all 23 games on the season and also leads the way with 57 assists in the field.
 
Hernandez bounced back from a tough opening day to post a 22-game hitting streak marking the longest such streak in the Mitch Hannahs coaching era. The Gurabo, Puerto Rico native is third in the Missouri Valley with a .396 batting average, while adding a team-high 38 hits and a .625 slugging percentage. Hernandez paces the Sycamores in runs (23) while sitting third in home runs (6) and second in RBIs (27).
 
Hernandez leads the team with 10 multi-hit games and eight multi-RBI contests on the season, including a two-homer, 5-RBI contest against Xavier. He has also adjusted to playing first base this season after spending parts of the previous two years at both catcher and the corner outfield spots. Hernandez has posted a .991 fielding percentage over 117 chances on the field.
 
The Sycamores continue Missouri Valley play this weekend with a three-game series against UIC. First pitch in Friday's opener at Bob Warn Field is set for 3 p.m. ET with the game to be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.

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