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FIU baseball head coach Turtle Thomas announced his 2008 incoming class on Wednesday, as well as a schedule of events for the fall.
"Our goal is to improve our program every year and that comes through the recruiting efforts of our staff,” said Thomas.
The class, ranked 15th in the nation by Perfect Game Crosschecker, features 24 newcomers including seven JUCO transfers. Among the highlights are two players selected in the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, five players listed on ProspectWire.com’s top-60 ’08 graduates in the state of
“The most important thing that we improved on was the pitching staff from the '08 team,” added Thomas. “In early workouts we look to be faster and more athletic and we have shown improvement on the pitching side.”
On October 11 at 2 p.m., the Golden Panthers will hold their annual Alumni Game. On October 22 at 6 p.m., FIU will face Team
Stay tuned to FIUSports.com for more information on your FIU Baseball team.
Full List:
Raiko Alfonso ● INF
Freshman ● 5-9 ● 170
High School: Listed as the No.20 prospect in
Aaron Arboleya ● RHP
Freshman ● 6-1 ● 180
High School:
Eric Berkowitz ● RHP
Junior ● 5-8 ● 155
Miami Dade College/Killian
At
High School: First team All-Dade and second team all-state selection in 2005.
Pablo Bermudez ● OF
Freshman ● 6-0 ● 180
Miami Springs HS
High School: Listed as the No.31 prospect in Florida by PorspectWire.com...Listed 92st in Perfect Game Crosschecker’s National Rankings...Named 2008 Third Team Rawlings/Perfect Game High School Senior Preseason All-American...2008 Miami Herald First Team All-Dade selection after posting a .451 batting average and driving in 21...All-state selection in 2007 after hitting .521 with 32 RBIs.
Tom Ebert ● RHP
Junior ● 6-6 ● 255
At
High School: Three time all-state selection.
R.J. Fondon ● LHP
Freshman ● 6-2 ● 190
Flanigan HS
High School: Listed as the No.60 prospect in
Bryan Garcia ● RHP
Sophomore ● 5-10 ● 188
Bayamón, P.R.
At FGCU: Posted a 6-1 record with a 2.70 ERA...Named second team all-conference.
High School: Named first team all-conference his senior year after posting a 7-2 record with a 2.70 ERA.
Casey Hanrahan ● C
Junior ● 6-1 ● 220
St. Johns Rivers CC/Lemon Bay HS
At SJRCC: Hit .392 with 44 RBIs his sophomore year.
High School: Earned the Rookie of the Year Award... named team MVP after his junior campaign.
Tim Jobe ● 1B/RHP
Junior ● 6-4 ● 220
Summer 2008: Broke several single-season and career batting records for the Duluth Huskies of the Northwoods league including single season batting average (.338), hits (74), home runs (9) and career home runs (9)...Was named to the Northwoods League Postseason All-Star Team
At
High School: Pre and postseason Louisville Slugger All-American in 2006.
Doug Joyce ● C
Freshman ● 6-3 ● 215
Stanwood HS
High School: Selected in the 41st round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Kansas City Royals....Named Baseball Player of the Year by the Skagit Valley Herald...Seattle Times all-area and all-state first team selection...Rated sixth overall and first among catchers in Washington State by Baseball Northwest...In 2007 was selected to the Seattle Mariners’ fall scout team.
Alex Kush ● 1B/OF
Freshman ● 6-5 ● 225
High School: Garnered Offensive Player of the Year honors his junior and senior seasons.
Justin Leith ● LHP
Freshman ● 6-2● 195
Barron Collier HS
High School: Selected in the 31st round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the
Michael Martinez ● OF/1B/RHP
Freshman ● 6-1 ● 208
Killian HS
High School:
Mason McVay ● LHP
Freshman ● 6-7 ● 205
Killian HS
High School: Named Miami Herald First Team All-Miami Dade in 2007 after posting an 8-5 record with a 1.89 ERA.
Zachary Parks ● LHP
Freshman ● 6-0 ● 190
Palmetto Senior HS
High School:
Sean Reilly ● C
Freshman ● 220
Xaverian BrothersHS
High School: Two-time MVP...hit .330 with five home runs and 20 RBIs as a senior...posted a .327 batting average his junior season.
Scott Rembisz ● RHP
Junior ● 6-1 ● 220
Manatee CC/Morgan HS
Summer 2008: Pitched for the US National Team, starting a game against Chinese Taipei.
At Manatee: 2008 Florida JUCO Pitcher of the Year...Second team JUCO All-American in 2008...All-conference selection and conference Pitcher of the Year in 2007 and ’08.
High School: Three-time all-conference selection...two-time all-state selection.
Michael Slabech ● 2B
Freshman ● 5-10 ● 170
Palmeto Ridge HS
High School: All-Florida Honorable Mention in 2008 after posting a .430 batting average, .540 OBP and swiping 26 bases.
Stephen Spradling ● OF
Freshman ● 5-11 ● 190
American Heritage HS
High School: Named team MVP in 2008 after posting a .406 batting average.
Michael Vargas ● 2B/OF
Freshman ● 5-10 ● 175
Don Bosco Prep
High School: Named 2008 Honorable Mention Rawlings/Perfect Game High School Senior Preseason All-American... Listed 197th in Perfect Game Crosschecker’s National Rankings...First team all-county his senior year and second team all-county his junior season...As a senior, hit .482 with 24 RBIs and 29 stolen bases.
Andre Vazquez ● RHP
Freshman ● 6-1 ● 210
Monsignor Pace HS
High School: Helped the Spartans capture the 2006
Greg Waddell ● OF
Junior ● 6-1 ● 210
Miami Dade College/Sunset HS
At
High School: Named the team’s best offensive player his freshman and sophomore seasons.
Garrett Wittles ● SS
Freshman
Krop HS
High School: Named Miami Herald Second Team All-Miami Dade in 2008 and third team in 2006 and ’07...Selected as team MVP his sophomore and senior seasons...During his senior campaign, posted a .420 average with six home runs and 29 RBIs.
