Smaller South Florida colleges and universities make their mark in the majors
Three local schools — Miami Dade College, Nova Southeastern University and Barry University — are continuing to prove that baseball players don’t have to go Division I to reach the major leagues.
MDC, which is essentially for freshmen and sophomores, currently has three players in the majors. NSU and Barry — who compete in the NCAA’s Division II — have two major-leaguers each.
The three MDC major-leaguers are 29-year-old infielder Santiago Espinal, who is the most-often used reserve on the Reds; Victor Caratini, 30, who is a productive backup catcher for the Astros; and 33-year-old Derek Law, who is having a solid season as part of the Nationals’ bullpen.
MDC coach Lazaro Llanes said his program remains a solid landing spot for young players looking to develop.
“It’s tough for most freshmen to get playing time at four-year schools because they are competing against a lot of seniors and transfer-portal players who are 22- or 23-years old,” Llanes said.
“Playing time for freshmen is an advantage all junior colleges share, but we also have our tradition at MDC of sending so many players to the majors.”
Llanes, a former scout for the Marlins and Brewers, knows well the landscape of professional baseball.
“Scouts have to go where there’s talent,” Llanes said. “They will cover their area fully.”
The two ex-NSU players in the majors are high-end guys: Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez; and Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas.
Martinez, a six-time All-Star, won a World Series with the Red Sox in 2018. He also led the American League in RBI that season (130), and he hit four homers in one game in 2017. He has had five 100-RBI seasons, including last year.
Mikolas, a two-time All-Star, led the National League with in wins in 2018, going 18-4.
Two prominent NSU minor-leaguers are 27-year-old catcher Jake Anchia, who is in his fourth year of playing at least some games in Double A; and lefty reliever Carlos Rey, 22, who is in Class A.
Barry’s big-leaguers are Cubs catcher Yan Gomes, 36; and Rockies reliever Tyler Kinley, 33.
Gomes, who was an All-Star in 2018 and won a World Series with the Nationals in 2019, is the first Brazilian-born player in the major leagues.
Kinley was drafted in the 16th round in 2013, and his main Marlins scout at that time was Llanes.
Barry’s minor-leaguers include 26-year-old reliever Myles Gayman (Class A, Reds); and 29-year-old infielder Alex De Goti (Double A, Rangers).
De Goti has already played two MLB games, going 2 for 6 in 2021 for the Astros, who made the World Series that season.
Meanwhile, there are seven players with MDC experience currently playing affiliated minor-league baseball.
That list includes 22-year-old infielder/outfielder Wooyeoul Shin (Class A, Rays, 16th round); 22-year-old reliever William Silva (Class A, Braves, 15th-rounder); 26-year-old reliever Orlando Ribalta (Nationals, Double A, 12th-rounder); 25-year-old infielder Abdiel Layer (Brewers, Double A, 40th-rounder); 23-year-old reliever Carlos Lequerica (Tigers, rookie league; undrafted); 23-year-old catcher Juan Gonzalez (White Sox, Class A, 19th-rounder); and 25-year-old reliever Andy Rodriguez (Rangers, Double A, undrafted).
Elsewhere, St. Thomas University, an NAIA program, has 26-year-old catcher Elih Marrero in Triple A with the Red Sox.
Adrian Morales, who was the coach at MDC before bolting for his current position at NSU, said there’s a lesson to be learned in all of this.
“This proves that everybody’s route to the major leagues is different,” Morales said. “This gives hopes to players who don’t go to Division I.”