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ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Henderson State senior pitcher Payton Byrd capped off a dominant 2025 season by being named a First Team All-American by D2 Baseball on Monday – the fourth publication to recognize him as an All-American this spring.
Earlier this month, Byrd was named an All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings (ABCA/Rawlings), and the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA). He is the first unanimous All-American in the history of the Reddie baseball program.
A right-handed reliever from Warren, Arkansas, Byrd emerged as one of the most dominant bullpen arms in the country. Appearing in 25 games for the Reddies, he recorded a 2.14 ERA over 42 innings pitched, with 58 strikeouts and 13 saves. His save total ranked second nationally in NCAA Division II. Byrd also led Henderson State in WHIP, opponent batting average, and appearances, solidifying the back end of a bullpen that helped the Reddies earn an NCAA Tournament appearance.
