Former FIU Panther Set To Make MLB Debut

On Tuesday, Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash announced that former FIU infielder Austin Shenton made the Rays 26-man Opening Day roster after a strong spring.

Shenton, 26, was a former FIU Panther who had a career slash line of .337/.421/.518/.939 with 16 home runs and 76 RBIs. The lefty would end up getting drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the fifth round of the 2019 MLB Draft.

With the news of Shenton making the Opening Day roster, he will become the 20th FIU Panther to make his Major League Debut.

Only two years into his career, Shenton would be involved in the Diego Castillo trade, where Castillo would go to Seattle in exchange for now-current Marlins reliever JT Chargois and Shenton.

Since joining the Rays, Shenton never had a wRC+ under 100, which marks the league average. His best season in the minor leagues was his most recent in 2023 where he slashed .304/.423/.584/1.006 with 29 home runs and 99 RBIs between AA and AAA.

Shenton struggled this Spring, going 8-41 with five RBIs, but struck out 14 times. An injury to Jonathan Aranda gave Shenton the way to make it up to the highest level of baseball, but despite the injuries, his work in the minor leagues earned him this spot.