Zac Zyons ’25 captured the 2024 America East Conference batting title by a landslide; his league-best .373 average proved 26 points ahead of the next closest finisher. In May, Zyons brought that power to the America East title game diamond, earning a hit, driving in a run, and scoring twice to lead the Bulldogs to their first-ever conference championship.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better year,” Zyons, a second baseman who also earned First-Team All-Conference honors, says. “Winning a championship with all your best friends is the best feeling you can ask for.”
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Beyond the accolades, Zyons’ emergence as a hitting machine is an ode to strapping on the comeback cleats for an unforgettable redshirt sophomore season.
First, a shoulder injury forced him to rehab during the 2023 fall-ball season. Just as that healed, Zyons tore his meniscus while grinding away in the gym over the winter. The South Kingstown, Rhode Island, native required knee surgery; the procedure took place the same February weekend the Bulldogs baseball team opened their 2024 season in Florida.
“Perseverance and powering through” were the two main ingredients that helped Zyons turn the corner and return to the field. “I try to do the right thing and keep myself healthy, but injuries are part of the game. When you play hard, you’re going to end up getting hurt.”
Zyons credits Bryant trainer Melanie Gran for helping him get back into the swing of things with the bulk of the season still in front of him. When he made his 2024 debut for Bryant on March 10, it marked game 11 of the season.
While he didn’t benefit from a normal seasonal ramp-up, Zyons says his coaches were patient as his hitting slowly returned to form. His hard work and support system paid off with a pair of hitting streaks of 10 or more games during the season. Despite missing time, he still finished third in total bases with 101.
“My coaches had faith in me,” he says of his superlative 2024 season. “Once I got hot, I just rode the high for the whole year.”
