Local nationally-ranked college baseball teams enter 2022 season with high hopes
Miami Dade College is ranked eighth in the nation among junior colleges.
St. Thomas University is ranked 17th nationally in the NAIA.
In NCAA Division II, Nova Southeastern University ranks third in the elite Sunshine State Conference, and Barry is fourth.
Welcome to local college baseball 2022, where the teams below Division I are full of optimism.
That’s especially true for players at NSU and Barry, who will be back to 50-game regular-season schedules after playing just 25 last year due to COVID.
“Our kids are grateful they can play baseball again,” NSU coach Laz Gutierrez said. “Because of what they missed last year, they are practicing with purpose. I’ve never seen a team so dialed in – not even on the major-league level.
“They are performing academically. Our practices have been clean. I find myself having an internal debate whether to continue to praise them. I want to drop the hammer on something but they’ve been so focused.”
Here’s a closer look:
NCAA DIVISION II
▪ NSU (13-12, 11-12) has a loaded rotation fronted by lefties Matthew Kavanaugh, Jeremy Cook and Cooper Omans and right-hander Daniel Rivero, who is the hardest thrower of the bunch with a fastball ranging between 95 and 97 mph.
Cook and Rivero are Miami Hurricanes transfers. Kavanaugh, who is 6-foot-4, earned pro interest after posting a 30-3 strikeout-walk ratio in his summer league. Omans is fearless pitching inside, and Cook also had a big summer.
Lefty Carlos Rey (92-95 mph) leads the bullpen, and the offense is powered by right fielder Gabe Rivera; center fielder Stephen Schissler; left fielder Adan Fernandez; first baseman Tyler Frank; shortstop Tyler Epstein; and third baseman Duncan Pastore.
Rivero showed pop in his time with the Hurricanes, belting 15 career homers in limited playing time. Schissler had a .945 OPS for NSU last year. Fernandez hit 11 homers and hit .360 in 25 games for NSU last season.
In the infield, Frank is another Canes transfer, and Epstein hit .360 with a .496 on-base percentage and eight steals in 10 attempts as NSU’s leadoff man.
▪ Barry (14-11, 12-8) lost six starting position players from last season. Key returners include catcher Omar Baldo, who hit .440 in 25 at-bats; and outfielder Ihosvany Castenada, who hit .321 in 81 at-bats. Also back is closer Ben Terwilliger, who went 1-0 with four saves and a 0.69 ERA in 10 games.
NAIA
▪ St. Thomas (34-21 overall 17-7 Sun Conference) is led by Jorge Perez, the program’s all-time wins leader. Perez, who took over in the fall of 2008, has led the Bobcats to the NAIA World Series three times, finishing second twice.
The Bobcats have three top transfers from Division I this year; right-hander Chase Costello (LSU/Stetson); right-hander Giovanny Soto (FIU) and center fielder Ezequiel Valdez (FIU).
▪ Florida Memorial (15-25 overall, 6-18 Sun Conference) and coach Florentino “Tino” Burgos will be led by Rohandry Javier (.342 batting average in 76 at-bats) and Yunior Sanchez (.309 batting average in 94 at-bats). Other returners are pitcher Juan Hernandez and hitters Nathan Harris and Jalen Young. The pitching coach is ex-Marlins hurler Antonio Alfonseca.
JUNIOR COLLEGE
▪ MDC (36-19 overall, 14-8 Southern Conference) reached the Junior College World Series in Colorado in 2021 for the third time this century. The Sharks’ other trips were a fifth-place showing in 2001 and second place in 2014.
Last year’s MDC team, which finished eighth at nationals, sent several players to four-year programs, including shortstop Henry Wallen (Miami); Carlos Lequerica (FIU); and Erick Orbeta (South Alabama).
In addition, one ex-MDC player, catcher Juan Gonzalez, was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 19th round.
MDC’s top players in 2022 include first baseman Matthew Krtausch, utility man Wooyeoul Shin and right-handers William Silva, Jose Pichardo and Marvin De La Hoz.