Son of local high school baseball coach likely to start at shortstop for FAU

With the 2022 college baseball season just a few weeks away, former Belen standout Armando Albert is in line to becoming the starting shortstop for the Florida Atlantic University Owls.

He is the son of Belen baseball coach Jerry Albert.

A lefty hitter, Albert impressed FAU coach John McCormack this past fall. McCormack said Albert is his team’s best defensive infielder and has the Owls’ strongest infield arm, too.

“He’s not big, but he can do it,” McCormack said of the 5-11, 165-pound Albert. “He knows the position. Now he needs to be more of a leader.”

Albert has taken quite a road to get to FAU. Out of high school, Albert signed with Rutgers University. But when the coaching staff was fired that summer, Albert transferred to Broward College without having played a single game for Rutgers.

After one year of junior-college ball, Broward College shut down its entire athletic program.

From there, Albert landed at Gainesville’s Santa Fe Community College, thanks to the recommendation of former Seattle Mariners scout Fernando Arguelles, whose son, Anthony, pitches for the Miami Hurricanes.

Albert hit .312 with 10 doubles and one triple at Santa Fe, ranking second on the team with nine steals and third with 37 runs. He had a four-RBI game in the state playoffs and was named to the all-tournament team, helping him land at FAU.

“Coach (McCormack) does a ton of homework before he offers a player a scholarship,” Jerry Albert said. “FAU does everything right, and it’s a blessing for my son to play for (McCormack).”

The Owls also have some other Dade/Broward standouts on their roster, including outfielder Dylan Goldstein of North Broward Prep and right-hander Nicholas Del Prado, a Florida Christian graduate who is a candidate for FAU’s starting rotation.

Lefty-hitting Goldstein, a junior-college transfer, figures to be a backup outfielder, at least to start the season.

“He’s not as good right now as (FAU’s starters),” McCormack said, “but we have to find a way to get his bat in the lineup.”

There are numerous former Dade/Broward prep stars playing Division I baseball outside of Miami. Here’s a look at some of them at South Florida and at Stetson:

USF

The South Florida Bulls, who shocked college baseball last season by winning a regional that included the Florida Gators and Miami Hurricanes, have 11 Dade/Broward players on their 2022 roster.

Second baseman/outfielder Roberto Pena, who moved to Miami from Venezuela at age 11, is a key to the Bulls.

“We love his energy and athleticism,” Bulls coach Billy Mohl said. “He’s the heartbeat of our team.”

Third baseman Carmine Lane, who led USF last season with a .306 batting average, is from American Heritage. He started 60 games in 2021, belting 11 homers and 14 doubles while posting an .857 OPS.

“When Carmine is locked in, he’s as tough an out as we have,” USF associate head coach Bo Durkac said. “He has a natural ability to swing hard without losing balance.”

Hialeah native Matt Ruiz, who also played at American Heritage, started 61 games last season for USF, mostly at third base and second base, hitting a team-high 15 doubles with a .771 OPS. He has a good shot at becoming the Bulls’ starting shortstop in 2022.

“He has thump in his bat,” Durkac said.

USF also has catcher Ben Rozenblum of Coral Springs. He produced two homers and a .747 OPS last season, making 43 starts for FIU.

“Our players call him ‘Money Ball’ because he’s so good at on-base percentage,” Durkac said. “His defense is average, but he really understands the strike zone. He’s a tough sucker to strike out.”

Former Cypress Bay standout Joaquin Monque is competing for time at first base, and he will also serve as a backup catcher.

“He’s played catcher since age 12, but when you watch him at first base, it’s shocking that he hasn’t played that position his whole life,” Durkac said.

Former TERRA pitcher Joseph Sanchez could be an impact arm for the Bulls this season due to his killer changeup.

Stetson

For a mid-major, Stetson can lay claim to “Pitcher U” status with major-league alumnus such as Jacob deGrom and Corey Kluber, who have combined to win four Cy Young awards the past eight years.

Stetson’s current staff includes brothers Chris and Jonathan Gonzalez, both from Miami Columbus. In fact, those two lefties could be battling for one spot in the rotation.

“Chris and Jon are as competitive as it gets,” Stetson pitching coach Dave Therneau said.

Stetson’s pitching staff also includes West Broward’s Danny Garcia, who tied for second in the Atlantic Sun Conference last season with seven saves.

Lefty Daniel Paret, who hails from Archbishop McCarthy, was the A-Sun Freshman of the Year in 2019. But he missed virtually all of the past two years (arm surgery). He’s projected to be ready for the upcoming season.

Offensively, the two locals to watch at Stetson are infielder Juan Correa (West Broward) and catcher Daniel Labrador (TERRA/Miami Hurricanes transfer).

Stetson coach Steve Trimper is especially high on Correa, a 6-5, 220-pound true freshman.

“He has ridiculous power,” Trimper said. “But there’s some swing-and-miss there.”