FIU baseball team to lean on pitching and depth for 2025 season
If FIU’s baseball team is to improve in 2025, it’s likely that its starting rotation will be able to take a large share of the credit.
Rich Witten, now set to enter his third season as FIU’s coach, said the offense made strides in Conference USA in 2024, ranking second in on-base percentage, third in homers and fourth in runs.
But the Panthers were just sixth in ERA (6.15) and ninth/last in errors (92 in 57 games).
FIU’s overall record last season was 27-30, and the Panthers finished 11-13 in league play.
But with the season opener set for Feb. 17 against visiting George Mason, the Panthers are optimistic that the changes made in personnel will bring better results in 2025.
“We prioritized pitching and defense in our recruiting class, and we now believe that will be the strength of our team,” Witten said. “We can now run out 10 to 12 quality arms at our opposition each week.”
The first four spots in the rotation are secure – returners Logan Runde and Owen Puk and transfers Easton Marks (Nevada) and left-hander Juan Villarreal (Odessa Community College).
Owen Puk is the younger brother of MLB pitcher A.J. Puk.
“Owen’s stuff is as good as anyone in the country,” Witten said.
Marks this fall showed a fastball up to 97 to go with a good cutter and changeup.
“He needed to improve his command, and he has,” Witten said. “Not a lot of people know about him, but he will be a force.”
Villarreal, a native of Panama, was FIU’s best pitcher this fall, according to the team’s extensive deep-dive statistics. At 6-foot-7, Villarreal is a big guy with a great feel for the zone. He throws 89-92 with an effective changeup.
“His changeup makes his fastball play up,” Witten said. “The swings he gets on both pitches are not good swings.”
When the Panthers need to go to a fifth starter, the top candidates are Jarek Woodward and sixth-year senior Kevin Martin.
Witten said Woodward – who is a Seattle University transfer – is “an elite strike-thrower.”
FIU’s closer is set to be lefty David Eckaus, who has just one save in three years.
“He had a strong summer,” Witten said, “first in the Valley League and then in the Cape Cod League. He was unhittable.”
Overall, the Panthers have 20 returners, including left fielder Kishon Frett (16 homers); shortstop Alex Ulloa (11 homers); and first baseman Brylan West, who made second-team All-Conference USA in 2024, hitting .333 with 16 doubles, two triples, 11 homers, 48 runs and a 1.059 OPS.
The Panthers also brought in 13 transfers and seven freshmen in an effort to turn around a program that hasn’t had a winning conference record since 2018 and hasn’t made an NCAA regional since 2015.
As for the lineup, Witten said he wanted the players to compete so hard that it will be tough for him to fill out a batting order.
That’s what happened this past fall, especially at catcher, where FIU faces an ongoing battle between veterans Rene Lastres, Brendan Roney and Nelson Rivera Flores and impressive freshman Marc Hersh.
The Panthers are set at the infield corners with West at first and lefty-swinging Samuel Fischer at third.
West, a 6-foot-4, 230-pounder, has a fascinating story. He played for Tampa Freedom High, but he had no scholarship offers to any level of baseball.
Instead, he got a shot as walk-on at a lower-level Division II junior college, and he made the most of it, eventually transferring to FIU for his breakout 2023 season. Along the way, he shed 65 pounds and made himself into a player.
In the middle infield, three players are battling for two spots: the aforementioned Ulloa, junior-college transfer Kareh Valentin and true freshman Adonys Velez.
Witten said Valentin is “an elite defender with more pop than you might think. He plays with energy.”
Left fielder Frett (1.001 OPS) is one of the team’s biggest stars. His 16 homers last season led FIU and ranked seventh in Conference USA.
Counting his 2023 season in junior-college ball, Frett has hammered 36 homers in his past 98 games.
“Kishon has as much power as anybody in the country,” Witten said of the 6-3, 215-pounder.
However, Frett struck out 57 times in 150 at-bats. This fall, FIU worked with Frett on some swing adjustments that led to more competitive at-bats.
In right field, there’s a battle between lefty hitters Hector Candelas and Austin Dearing.
Candelas arrived at FIU last year as a junior-college transfer. He fared well in limited playing time, hitting .302 with an .842 OPS in 63 at-bats.
“He gives us consistent at-bats,” Witten said. “He also has a strong arm.”
Dearing made 33 starts last season, hitting .285 with six homers and an .891 OPS. He has more pop in his bat than Candelas, but there’s more swing-and-miss, too.
In center field, Albert Serrano – a Wagner transfer – won the job by hitting .390 this fall.
At Wagner last season, he made 53 starts, hitting .280 with an .805 OPS and seven steals in eight attempts.
“He dominated for us this fall,” Witten said. “He’s fast. He sprays the ball around, and he makes great plays in the field.”
Freshman Cole Cleveland, a lefty hitter, is an elite athlete who could earn some time in center field. Along with the aforementioned Hersh and Velez, Cleveland figures to be one of three true freshmen hitters who will get playing time for FIU this season.
An option at DH is Javier Crespo, who missed the fall after having surgery on his non-throwing shoulder.
At The Citadel last season, Crespo started in all 32 of his games, hitting .325 with one homer and a .774 OPS.
“He’s a line-drive hitter,” Witten said. “He gives you quality at-bats, but we weren’t able to see him in the fall. He got cleared right after fall ended.”