Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Baseball Positional Previews: Infielders/DH
2/6/2019 1:27:00 PM | Baseball
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic University baseball is on the brink of the team's 39th season, and 11th year under the tutelage of Head Coach John McCormack (who has been part of the program for 29 years). This is the first of three position-by-position breakdowns of the 2019 team, focusing on the infielders and designated hitter slot.
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The infield, though not without competition, is pretty well set on each corner, by two senior returning starters. Fifth-year redshirt senior Gunnar Lambert, one of the team's three captains, will man first base, while on the other side of the diamond, will be Joe Montes, back for his second go-round at the hot corner for the Owls.
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Lambert finished last year on a great note, as he currently sits on a stretch of 30 consecutive games reaching base. Contained within that was a 15-game hitting streak, and 24 of those 30 games included at least one baseknock. Overall, the Oviedo, Florida native hit .246 a year ago with 12 home runs – the most among returnees – and 32 RBI.
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Montes, who was a newcomer to the roster this time last year, did not take long to make his mark, as he would become one of just three Owls to start and play in all 63 games. He hovered around the .300 mark all season, wrapping at .293 with 77 hits, seventh in C-USA and most on the squad. Among those 77 hits were a team-high seven games with three or more, and he totaled 40 RBI on the year.
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"Gunnar brings fifth-year leadership and has turned himself into a really good first baseman," said McCormack. "I think he understands pitching better, he understands pitches he can drive and he's turned himself into a professional collegiate hitter. Joe Montes is just steady. It's just a simple choice (at third)."
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As for the two middle infield slots, there is a real possibility both battles come down to Opening Night. Second base is a competition between returner Richie Nizza and freshman B.J. Murray, while shortstop looks to be coming down to two junior college transfers to replace current Tampa Bay Ray minor leaguer Tyler Frank, in Wilfredo Alvarez and Francisco Urbaez.
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Nizza notched 34 starts at second base in 2018, while the other three are brand new to the program. Murray is a local high school product, from Trinity Christian Academy in Lake Worth. His hometown is Nassau, Bahamas. Alvarez and Urbaez hail from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, respectively. Alvarez comes to FAU from Pensacola State College, while Urbaez played at Chipola College.
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Last year at designated hitter saw a number of Owls attempt to fill the role, but it was cemented late, and more than capably, by freshman Jared DeSantolo. His name was written in the lineup for the final 21 games (and 24 of the last 25) and he batted .342, with 12 of his 40 hits going for extra bases, while knocking in 24 runs. None was more valuable than his walkoff RBI double in the bottom of the 10th inning against Rice at the C-USA Championship to stave off elimination and send the other Owls home.
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As far as backups at each corner, because Lambert also has vast catching experience, there will be days where he may be asked to be back there. In that case, the first base options include Andru Summerall, who started 19 games there last year and didn't commit a single error, or possibly Pedro Pages when he is not catching. DeSantolo can also play there in a pinch, according to McCormack, as he gained experience during some preseason intrasquads.
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At third, if Montes was forced to miss his first start in two years, McCormack listed Nizza, Murray and Urbaez as possibilities. McCormack also spoke of freshman Jacob Josey, an incoming two-way player as being further along on the pitching side. But he did say that the Ellenton, Florida native could be called upon for late-inning defense, being capable at any infield slot, but listed shortstop first. Fellow first-year Garrett Evans had an offseason injury and may miss the season.
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Other potential DH fillers beyond DeSantolo include, but aren't limited to: Summerall, Murray, freshman outfielder Mitchell Hartigan, and even the Pages/Lambert duo.
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The next batch of position previews will come your way Friday, focusing on the outfielders and catchers. A week from then, Feb. 15, is the season opener, versus Cincinnati. For all ticket info and purchasing, call 1-866-FAU-OWLS or visit baseball's ticket website.
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| 2019 Positional Previews |
| Today: Infielders and DH |
| Friday, Feb. 8: Outfielders and Catchers |
| Tuesday, Feb. 12: Pitchers |
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Lambert finished last year on a great note, as he currently sits on a stretch of 30 consecutive games reaching base. Contained within that was a 15-game hitting streak, and 24 of those 30 games included at least one baseknock. Overall, the Oviedo, Florida native hit .246 a year ago with 12 home runs – the most among returnees – and 32 RBI.
Â
Montes, who was a newcomer to the roster this time last year, did not take long to make his mark, as he would become one of just three Owls to start and play in all 63 games. He hovered around the .300 mark all season, wrapping at .293 with 77 hits, seventh in C-USA and most on the squad. Among those 77 hits were a team-high seven games with three or more, and he totaled 40 RBI on the year.
Â
"Gunnar brings fifth-year leadership and has turned himself into a really good first baseman," said McCormack. "I think he understands pitching better, he understands pitches he can drive and he's turned himself into a professional collegiate hitter. Joe Montes is just steady. It's just a simple choice (at third)."
Â
As for the two middle infield slots, there is a real possibility both battles come down to Opening Night. Second base is a competition between returner Richie Nizza and freshman B.J. Murray, while shortstop looks to be coming down to two junior college transfers to replace current Tampa Bay Ray minor leaguer Tyler Frank, in Wilfredo Alvarez and Francisco Urbaez.
Â
Nizza notched 34 starts at second base in 2018, while the other three are brand new to the program. Murray is a local high school product, from Trinity Christian Academy in Lake Worth. His hometown is Nassau, Bahamas. Alvarez and Urbaez hail from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, respectively. Alvarez comes to FAU from Pensacola State College, while Urbaez played at Chipola College.
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Last year at designated hitter saw a number of Owls attempt to fill the role, but it was cemented late, and more than capably, by freshman Jared DeSantolo. His name was written in the lineup for the final 21 games (and 24 of the last 25) and he batted .342, with 12 of his 40 hits going for extra bases, while knocking in 24 runs. None was more valuable than his walkoff RBI double in the bottom of the 10th inning against Rice at the C-USA Championship to stave off elimination and send the other Owls home.
Â
As far as backups at each corner, because Lambert also has vast catching experience, there will be days where he may be asked to be back there. In that case, the first base options include Andru Summerall, who started 19 games there last year and didn't commit a single error, or possibly Pedro Pages when he is not catching. DeSantolo can also play there in a pinch, according to McCormack, as he gained experience during some preseason intrasquads.
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At third, if Montes was forced to miss his first start in two years, McCormack listed Nizza, Murray and Urbaez as possibilities. McCormack also spoke of freshman Jacob Josey, an incoming two-way player as being further along on the pitching side. But he did say that the Ellenton, Florida native could be called upon for late-inning defense, being capable at any infield slot, but listed shortstop first. Fellow first-year Garrett Evans had an offseason injury and may miss the season.
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Other potential DH fillers beyond DeSantolo include, but aren't limited to: Summerall, Murray, freshman outfielder Mitchell Hartigan, and even the Pages/Lambert duo.
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The next batch of position previews will come your way Friday, focusing on the outfielders and catchers. A week from then, Feb. 15, is the season opener, versus Cincinnati. For all ticket info and purchasing, call 1-866-FAU-OWLS or visit baseball's ticket website.
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Players Mentioned
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INF
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