`Canes Baseball Begins Fall Practice on Thursday
Oct. 13, 2010
Coral Gables, Fla. – Set to begin his 18th year at the helm of the University of Miami baseball program, head coach Jim Morris and the Hurricanes will begin fall practice on Thurs., Oct. 14 at Alex Rodriguez Park on the UM campus. The opening portion of practice will include media availability with players from 1:30-2:30 p.m., followed by Coach Morris speaking with the media from 2:30-3 p.m.
Under the direction of Coach Morris, as well as associate head coach and recruiting coordinator J.D. Arteaga, the 2010 fall roster for UM includes 13 signees/newcomers to last year’s team that advanced to the Super Regionals (Gainesville, Fla.), after winning the Coral Gables Regional opening rounds.
Aided by the help of assistant coach Joe Mercadante, Morris and Arteaga were able to bring in a class of 12 freshmen and one sophomore. The 12 freshmen include Julian Santos, Shane Rowland, Brad Fieger, Bryan Radziewski, Sam Abrams, Adam Sargent, Ryan Perez, Corey Janson, Dale Carey, Scott Weibel, AJ Salcines and Javi Salas. Sophomore Cade Kreuter also joins the program after spending his freshman season at the University of Southern California.
“First of all, we have to replace some of the guys we lost such as Chris Hernandez and David Gutierrez,” said Morris, who has taken UM to the College World Series 11 times in 17 seasons. “We lost some guys we were hoping would sign with us to the [MLB] draft, and that hurt our recruiting class. However, we’re lucky that position player-wise we have a lot of guys returning.
“I’m more concerned about our pitching than I am anything because that’s where we need a couple guys in this year’s recruiting class to step it up,” Morris added.
All but two of the newcomers are from the “Sunshine State”, with outfielder Dale Carey hailing from Marietta Ga., and Kreuter coming from Newhall, Calif. Carey comes from Wheeler High School, the same school that produced DeQuan Jones who is currently on the `Canes men’s basketball team.
The position breakdown of the incoming group includes six infielders, two left-handed pitchers, three right-handed pitchers and two outfielders.
“You’re always concerned about catching, and we lost Yasmani Grandal who, in my opinion, was the best catcher in the country last season,” continued Morris. “So, either David Villasuso has to turn it up, or one of the freshmen. That’s the quarterback of your team, and it’s the most important position on the field.”
Heading into fall practice, the 35-man roster consists of just two seniors – Chris Pelaez and Michael Rudman. The squad also features eight juniors, nine sophomores and 12 freshmen. UM also welcomes four walk-ons to the fall roster – one junior, two sophomores and a freshman. The roster features 17 returning players – including 16 letterwinners – from last year’s team that finished 43-20 overall. Among the players returning this season include left-hand pitcher Daniel Miranda and third baseman Harold Martinez – both All-ACC performers from a season ago – as well as right-hand pitcher E.J. Encinosa.
Pelaez returns as the team’s leading hitter from 2010, batting a team second-best .314 and a .517 slugging percentage. Martinez finished last season ranked in the top 20 nationally for homeruns (21).
A host of others, such as Nathan Melendres, Zeke DeVoss and Stephen Perez return and look to improve on their stellar 2010 campaigns.
For more information on the University of Miami baseball team, please log on to www.hurricanesports.com. Once there, you will find up-to-date news, stats and information regarding the Hurricanes baseball program.
You can also keep up-to-date with all UM Athletics via twitter at Twitter.com/HurricaneSports. To follow the UM Baseball Team via twitter, please navigate to Twitter.com/CanesBaseball.
