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Florida Atlantic University Athletics
2001 Baseball Prospectus
1/25/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 25, 2001
Success is back-to-back NCAA Regional berths, 17 players signing professional contracts, a consensus All-American, an All-American, a pre-season All-American, the 80th player taken in the draft, two seasons with a top-30 ranking, five graduates and 98 victories. Challenge is maintaining that level of play. One way to meet the challenge is to build from within.
Head coach Kevin Cooney, in his 18th season and among the nation's winningest coaches with a 577-351-9 mark, has built a career around building talent from within. One only has to look at the program's last two shortstops. Both were undrafted out of high school. After four years of collegiate competition the first was a 5th round pick and a Trans America Athletic Conference Tournament MVP. The second was a pre-season All-American prior to his junior season and became the university's highest draftee.
This season Cooney will rely on not progression of one player, but will need the team to develop as a unit. The immediate pressure will lie on the shoulders of Petersen Benjamin, one of two returning seniors. Benjamin posted a 12-1 record in 2000 and was perfect in TAAC play. He is also the program's second pre-season All-American selectee. Fellow senior Regan Samaniego will also be looked at to help carry the burden of experience. Samaniego played in 54 games a year ago, finished the season second on the squad with a .358 average and eight homers in 120 at bats. Defensively, Gabe Somarriba worked his way into the 2000 line-up as the pitchers' best friend making game-saving catches. He will return as a junior and as a proven lead-off hitter with an on-base percentage of .479.
Benjamin, joined by three staff returners, will be asked to lend experience to eight new pitchers and to fill the void of Dan Jackson, who posted a 9-2 mark, Carmen Cali, who recorded 22 career victories in an FAU uniform, and closer Nick Mattioni, who earned five saves in 2000 and combined for six shutouts.
"We no longer have players who can be counted on to strikeout 10-12 men per game," says Cooney. Initially, Benjamin, Danny Core, who saw 2000 freshman time as a starter, a closer and as a middle reliever, and Greg Eubanks, who ate up 52 innings, mostly out of the pen and posted a 4-2 record with a 3.98 ERA, will be the backbone of the pitching staff. However, Cooney expects Chris Pillsbury, a freshman from Jacksonville, Aaron Diehl, a red-shirt sophomore, and Chris Wailand, a junior college transfer, to make an immediate impact. The remaining staff will work into the lineup as situational pitchers.
"Unfortunately, the bulk of our staff are righthanders," adds Cooney, "but, they all know how to compete. We have some very strong situational lefties and we think Travis Nesmith (a lefty) will come along and Chris Della Rocco will be a good college pitcher."
Another area in which FAU has enjoyed experience, but will be young in 2001 is catcher. Behind the plate will be Shaen O'Connor who played in 23 games in 2000, mostly as a DH or pinch hitter, and freshman, Robbie Orton. "Robbie is a solid defensive catcher and he runs well for a catcher," says Cooney."We think he will progress quickly and could be our starter. Shaen has the potential to be a strong hitter and really improve his receiving over the summer and fall. They may very well split time behind the plate."
Settling the questions on the mound and behind the plate may be the easiest for the 2001 coaching staff. "The positions are not determined," says Cooney. "The first six weeks of the season will determine the starters. Our infielders practice at every position and the outfield and DH roles will be determined by how much we need offense or how much we need defense. In that six week settling time we are also playing 18 games against regional participants. L.J. Biernbaum, who may see time in right, at first or as a DH, will be relied upon at the plate. He along with Samaniego could provide much needed pop in the lineup. Also vying for spots in the outfield will be Tim McNab, a junior transfer who's bat should keep him in the line-up either in the outfield or possibly at second. Newcomers Mike Valdes and Andrew Thoms will round out the outfielders."
The outfield returns one everyday starter and two spot starters while the infield will be relatively new. O'Connor and Biernbaum saw time at first in 2000, but freshman Rusty Brown may be given the first opportunity. "Rusty has the potential to be a good college player early in his career," says Cooney.
To Brown's left is in question. Two freshmen split the time in 2000 and both return. "Jason Sullivan won the position early last year with strong defense. Alex Fernandez took the position with a strong bat. We platooned the two before Fernandez was injured and Sully finished the year strong. But, it's not just those two. McNab could play there or if needed, we could move Bobby Spano," says Cooney.
Spano, a junior transfer, brings NCAA Regional, Super Regional and World Series experience to the club. Bobby is a solid shortstop," says Cooney. "Short is a position where we have enjoyed some spectacular plays. There will be no shortfall. Bobby is a player who will make the departure of Tommy (Murphy) to pro ball less noticeable." At third, newcomer Dean Devine holds the first opportunity. Devine had an outstanding junior college career at Triton CC where he was an All-American. Brown may also see time at third.
"Dean has a lot of talent," says Cooney. "He came here from a strong JUCO program. His adjustment will be critical on an otherwise young infield and ina pinch, he may catch, a position where he excelled at the JUCO level."
"2001 will be a year for the program's younger players to shine,"says Cooney. "Last season was a year to prove 1999 was not a fluke. The team accepted that challenge. This season the challenge will be to prove the program can maintain strength, not let down after the loss of great players.
"This year's challenge is to prove we are a legitimate program.We want this program and the players to show the fruits of their labor. It's time for players like Regan and L.J. to have their turns in prime time. The talent is here. Is the performance?"
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