Paws Up Mega Preview – FIU Baseball’s Full Roster For 2024

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MIAMI, FL –Following a 21-34 record in 2023 for first-year head coach Rich Witten, FIU Baseball looks to continue to improve off of what was a five-win improvement from the year prior.

The list below mentions who left, who is new and who is a returning player to this Panthers squad.

Players Lost:

• Alec Sanchez
• Ruben Carpio
• Angel Tiburcio
• Bryan Pazos
• Steven Ondina
• Henry Wallen
• Mikey Rosario
• Mario Fernandez
• Craig Palidar
• Christian Santana
• Marcus O’Malley
• Bryan Loriga
• Dante Girardi
• Robert Sotolongo
• Mario Zabala
• Tim Mcgugh
• Ceasar Franco
• Evan Chenier
• CJ McKennitt
• Marcos Cevillano

Players Added

• Jeff Liquori
• Kishon Frett
• Austin Dearing
• Alex Ulloa
• Brylan West
• Nelson Rivera
• Jacob McKenzie
• Chase Engelhard
• Andre Fernandez
• Samuel Fischer
• Tracen Cameron
• Jaydon Bishop
• Tristan Dietrich
• Ryan Reyerson
• J’Quan Smith
• Hector Candelas
• Armando Beccera
• Jamel Vera
• Bryce Greene
• Cameron Clines
• Marlin Takovich
• Andrew Ildefonso
• Logan Runde
• Evan Alwine
• Justin Paz

Returning Players:

• Ryne Guida
• Ryan Cabarcas
• Brendan Roney
• Nick Pitelli
• Ronny Medina
• Roylan Quevedo
• Adrian Figueroa
• Matthew Corpas
• David Eckaus
• Zac Lampton
• Richie Pena
• Orlando Hernandez
• Joel Pineiro
• Jackson Ritchey
• Owen Puk
• Kevin Martin
• Daniel McAuliff

Witten On The Mic

We had the chance to speak to FIU head coach Rich Witten about his ball club as well as his thoughts on the new teams entering Conference USA. Here were his thoughts and what he had to say.

“Whether those are incoming freshmen, juniors, and transfer portal players, they’ve made a huge difference right away. They’re meshing well with the guys that we have returning and it’s an exciting group coming into year number two because the returning players in the program have a great amount of buy-in and they know what to expect and what the standards are.“

“The first year, players whether they’re transfers or freshmen or are hitting the ground running and doing a really good job. The team chemistry is very good right now.”

Witten also spoke a bit about the new teams coming into what he thinks will turn into one of the best conferences in college baseball in Conference USA.

“It’s one of the best baseball conferences in the country. We lost a couple of good programs and we brought in a couple of great programs. It’s gonna be one of the best baseball conferences in the entire country and our guys know that.”

“We have to prepare throughout the offseason knowing that we’re going to be playing in one of the best baseball conferences. We’re excited to compete against these guys.”

Outfield

This may be the position that should excite FIU fans the most. After having an outfield comprised of Alec Sanchez, Ruben Carpio, and Mikey Rosario, the outfield will be brand new but consists of a lot of options to go to.

Jeff Liquori was the big-ticket player that Witten brought in via the transfer portal. In three seasons at Florida Southern College, a D2 program, the Panthers soon-to-be starter slashed .332/.402/.590/.992 with 24 home runs and 80 RBIs.

“It’s been fantastic,” said Witten when asked about Liquori. “He was a big recruit for us this summer out of the transfer portal. Very sought after, and we were fortunate to land him. He’s just been a fantastic young man.“

“He’s jumped right in and he’s enjoying himself. He’s very appreciative and thankful for every resource that we have here and the opportunities that he’s been given.”

Liquori can play all three outfield spots, but most likely will slot at right field with possible time in center to allow other guys to get reps. He has also played first base, but with the amount of depth at the position, it is unlikely to see him play there.

Kishon Frett certainly made a name for himself since arriving on campus in the fall and the Blue & Gold World Series where he took pitcher Logan Runde deep to left field.

Frett comes from Seminal State College, a JUCO school where he spent two seasons and hit .299 his first year and then .345 with 20 home runs. Expect the Panthers power hitter to play left field this season. He was amongst the top five in home runs at the JUCO level in 2023.

Center field has plenty of options for FIU, but what looks more realistic is having former Savannah Banana Armando Becerra start there. In three seasons at Erskine College, Becerra slashed .337/.416/.532/.947 with 15 home runs and 85 RBIs.

Becerra stole 24 bases in 2022 and 19 in 2023, so he certainly possesses the speed factor which is one thing that is a must at center field.

The two players who find themselves possibly getting into platoon situations are Austin Dearing and J’Quann Smith, both who made lasting impressions in the fall ball game.

Although Dearing’s numbers before FIU stand out, those came in a relatively small sample size. In the summer, Dearing played and slashed .373/.475/.649/1.125 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs in his largest sample size of 38 games, which adds up to 162 plate appearances.

Dearing will likely see time at the corner outfield spots, but there is certainly a case to see him start on opening day for Florida International.

J’Quann Smith, the Panthers speedy outfielder can play all three spots, but best fits at center field with his 6’3″, 190-pound stature. His speed has certainly been a factor before FIU, as he stole 19 bases playing summer ball with the Stanford River Rats.

In Smith’s freshman year of college, he stole 13 bases while hitting .252 with two doubles, three home runs, and 15 RBIs. The Virgin Island native struggled in his sophomore campaign where he played in 43 games and slashed .239/.350/.368 with one home run, 19 RBIs, and nine stolen bases.

Expect Smith to either be the Panthers’ lead-off hitter or in the nine whole while being a late defensive replacement.

Hector Candelas, who up to this point in his career has seen limited action should be a name that the Panthers use as a platoon option during mid-week action, but his 6’0″, 195 frame certainly screams speed, which he showed in 2023, stealing four bags in a 60 game stretch. Candelas slashed .429/.524/.742 with nine home runs and 70 RBIs.

Freshman Jamel Vera was slotted mainly in left field during the World Series three-game set, which gives you a sense of where he may get action during the season, but with the amount of depth, it seems like Vera’s playing time will be limited.

Kevin Projected Starting Outfield

LF – Kishon Frett
CF – Armando Becerra
RF – Jeff Liquori

Infield

A spot that certainly took fewer hits was the infield but will be seeing a lot of new faces nonetheless. The main returners include Conference USA Freshman team selection Roylan Quevedo and first baseman Adrian Figueroa and Ryne Guida.

Starting first baseman come opening day will be senior Adrian Figueroa who had a great season for the blue and gold in 2023, slashing .281/.362/.350/.712 with two home runs and 33 RBIs.

The Doral Academy product’s 6’5″ height certainly stands out with his defense and the ability to make grabs off of iffy throws from anyone in the diamond.

Along with Figueroa is what Witten calls the most polished hitter on the team in senior Ryne Guida who rose onto the scene for FIU in 2023 slashing .366/.444/.587/1.030 with 11 home runs and 50 RBIs.

Guida then took his scorching hot season to the Valley League and ended up having his number retired there following a slash line of .425/.506/.582/1.088 with two home runs and 30 RBIs.

Ryne will likely see time at first base during mid-week games to open the designated hitter spot to other players on the team looking to get some at-bats.

The newcomer to the first base position is Brylan West, a JUCO product who came from South Florida State College. In a 45-game sample size in Summer Ball last year, 2023, West slashed .312/.432/.452/.884 with two home runs and 38 RBIs.

West has already made noise, as in the Blue & Gold World Series he showed off his defense along with hitting a home run in the final game of the series.

He certainly caught the eye of Witten early on as he described the 6’4″, 242-pound first baseman as the second most polished hitter on the ball club behind Guida.

Roylan Quevedo spent most of the season playing shortstop, primarily due to starter Steven Ondina going down with an injury for the majority of the season.

“I think Roy is gonna settle in at second base most comfortably. He’s a little bit more natural to that position. Last year due to some injuries we had to force the shortstop thing a little bit. Not saying that he can’t do it, but I think he’s going to be in his best position, second base and that’s where he’s been taking multiple reps for.”

In 23 games, Quevedo slashed .200/.342/.246/.588 with eight RBIs and two stolen bases. He looks to build off of a freshman campaign that he believes he can improve on, especially now that he can develop at second base.

When speaking to Quevedo during the fall practices, he mentioned that he feels like he can tap into a lot more power than he did in a limited 2023 season.

Chase Engelhard was one of many transfer portal acquisitions that the Panthers made. From Tulane, the 6’1″, 194-pound shortstop slashed .211/.268/.344/.612 with two home runs and seven RBIs.

Engelhard has seen action at third base as well, but the senior out of Atlanta will likely slot in best as a utility infielder playing a little bit of everywhere.

The upside for Engelhard is certainly there as a former freshman All-American, but injuries have set him back. Now that he is healthy, there is a chance to see what he was supposed to be. In his freshman year, Engelhard slashed .299/.361/.490/.851 with nine home runs and 52 RBIs.

Andre Martinez had himself a great 2023 at the University of Charleston, slashing .358/.461/.481/.943 with three home runs and 57 RBIs. Martinez then struggled in summer ball slashing .200/.393/.200/.593 with three RBIs.

A player that we will likely see during midweek games is third baseman Samuel Fischer. Although Fischer has seen action at first base, the expectation would be to see action primarily at third.

Offensively, his 6’2″, 197-pound frame stands out as someone who can gain some power through his time here at FIU, which is why the upside is certainly intriguing.

Although Matthew Corpas only saw action in one game in 2023, Corpas can see action during the Panthers’ midweek slate and be a utility player off the bench with some power in his bat and his versatility.

The Panthers’ only true two-way player this season is freshman Tracen Cameron who can be seen more as a pitcher after showing velocities from 88-91 and hitting 92 at one point, but if they need him to hit, that’ll be the case as well.

Cameron struggles defensively in the Blue & Gold World Series, but there’s still a long way for the freshman to go. Cameron may likely stick as a pitcher as he goes forward in his collegiate career.

Kevin’s Projected Starting Infielders

1B – Adrian Figueroa
2B – Roylan Quevedo
SS – Alex Ulloa
3B – Chase Engelhard
DH – Ryne Guida

Catchers

One of the positions that is extremely deep is at catcher. The likely starting catching duo will be Brendan Roney and Ronny Medina with Nick Pitelli as a third catcher.

Roney played in 38 games for FIU in 2023 where he slashed .260/.380/.300/.680 with one home run and eight RBIs. Roney got off to a slow start in 2023 but got it going with the bat late in the season.

Ronny Medina will bring you more power at the backstop position, something the Panthers lacked at that spot. This past summer, Medina played in the Valley league and slashed .294/.409/.382/.792 with five RBIs.

One of the vets of the group, Nick Pitelli will most likely see reps during midweek games as he only saw action in seven games last season as the catching tandem of Roney and Palidar took off.

Pitelli always catches bullpens for pitchers and enjoys his role at the moment. He will be the third catcher. Players are very fond of him from that I understand.

USF transfer Nelson Rivera has been rehabbing from a shoulder injury, so time will tell what FIU will get, but he did put up encouraging numbers in his two years with the Bulls.

A player that will most likely not see too much action this season is freshman Jacob McKenzie who had one of the highest defensive ratings during the Panthers scout day, but the bat still has a long way to go.

If he isn’t redshirted, McKenzie will see action during midweek games, but FIU has found what can be the catcher of the future for this Panthers team and his defense will be something that’ll be a key factor.

Kevin’s Projected Starting Catcher

C – Brendan Roney

Starting Pitchers

Last season, the biggest struggle for Rich Witten and the Panthers was the pitching as a whole. The starting pitching was able to hold up, but the bullpen at times blew leads, most notably in the second game of the spread-out four-game set against the Miami Hurricanes.

In the 18th round of the Major League Draft, the Miami Marlins selected pitcher Tristan Dietrich. At the time, Dietrich was committed to FIU and was already taking classes, so he ended up not signing with the Marlins for what seemed to be a high price.