Miami Baseball Welcomes 11 Newcomers for 2005

Sept. 16, 2004

CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla.– The University of Miami baseball team welcomed 11 newcomers for the 2004-05 academic year with the start of fall classes.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

Miami returns 17 lettermen for the 2005 season after a fifth-place finish at the 2004 College World Series. The Hurricanes will also have starting centerfielder Danny Figueroa back after missing the 2004 season with elbow and shoulder injuries. UM also gains the services of left-handed hurler Scott Maine after Tommy John surgery last January.

The Hurricanes will need to replace the loss of position starters Jim Burt (1B), Adam Ricks (2B), Erick San Pedro (C), Richard Giannotti (RF) and Brian Barton (CF), along with starting pitcher J.D. Cockroft.

Miami’s talented group of newcomers include nine freshmen, one junior college transfer and one Division-I transfer. And is expected to be what and Head Coach Jim Morris needs to make a run at UM’s fifth national championship next June. Recruiting coordinator Gino DiMare and assistant coach J.D. Arteaga lined up a class that should rank among the nation’s best.

“We feel like we were able to put together one of the better classes in the country,” DiMare said. “This is a talented group of players that fills some needs for us after losing six players to the professional ranks. We are hoping there are some players in this class that can step up and play right away for us.”

Catcher Alex Garabedian, a seventh-round draft choice by the New York Yankees, headlines Miami’s 2005 class of newcomers. The Columbus High School graduate is expected to challenge sophomore Eddy Rodriguez for the starting job behind the plate. Garabedian was ranked as the second-best catcher in the class of 2004 by Baseball America, and the 33^rd-best prospect overall.

The Hurricanes landed an outstanding pitching prospect in Hialeah’s Raudel Alfonso. The Hialeah High School product is ranked 26th nationally by Baseball America and was drafted in the 50^th round of the MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox in June. Alfonso, whose fastball tops out at 93 mph, helped pitch Hialeah to the state championship in 2001 and 2002. The 6 foot 2 inch left-hander has the makeup to be an outstanding power pitcher for the Hurricanes.

Danny Valencia joins the Hurricanes after spending his freshman season at UNC Greensboro where he was named the SoCon Freshman of the Year by the media. The Boca Raton native and Spanish River High School alum, hit .338 with eight home runs and 16 doubles while playing third base and shortstop.

Miami picked up one junior college transfer, Andy Bennett, out of Polk Community College in Winter Haven, Fla. Bennett is expected to compete for the job at first base.

UM landed a great athlete and possibly the best shortstop in the state of Florida with the signing of Walter Diaz out of Braddock High School in Miami. Diaz is 6 foot tall and 180 pounds and is ranked as the 123rd-best prospect nationally. Diaz helped Columbus High School to the state championship in 2003 before transferring to Braddock.

Manny Miguelez out of Coral Reef High School in Miami, has the potential of becoming a quality left-handed pitcher for the Hurricanes. Miguelez is considered the second-best left-handed pitcher in South Florida.

Miami ventured to Georgia to find right-handed pitching prospect Michael Sanders out of Eagles Landing High School in McDonough, Ga. The UM coaching staff was excited to land the 6 foot 2 inch prospect who they feel has great potential to help the program in the future.

The Hurricanes also added two right-handed pitchers out of Dade County in Jason Santana and Carlos Gutierrez. Santana went 7-2 with a 1.38 ERA and 58 strikeouts for Coral Gables High School, while being named a first-team All-Dade County selection. Columbus’ Gutierrez posted a 6-2 mark with a 2.70 ERA and 42 strikeouts for Columbus High School.

Killian infielder Daniel Robitaille will strengthen the Miami defense and add depth at both second and third base. He hit .449 for Killian a year ago with three home runs and 25 RBI. He was a first-team All-Dade County selection and a third-team All-State pick on the state runner-up team.

Miami also added Sean Flaherty, a right-handed knuckle ball pitcher out of Lemon Bay High School in Englewood, Fla.  

2005 University of Miami Baseball Newcomers