Behind the Mic with Joe Zagacki
The University of Miami baseball team has enjoyed a bounce back season under first year head coach Gino DiMare. In late April the Canes are back inside the top 25 and are in excellent position to return to the NCAA tournament after swinging and missing the last two seasons.
The Canes swept Virginia on the road last weekend to jump into the top 25 rankings for the first time since Feb. 26, 2018, when they were No. 24. D1Baseball has Miami ranked No. 23.
The Canes put together a streak where they won seven of eight games, including five straight and two of three from Florida State the first weekend in April. The Hurricanes’ RPI rose to No. 20 of 299 Division I teams.
Miami had its national-record, 44-year postseason NCAA tournament streak snapped in 2017 and again missed a tournament berth in 2018.
Some of the other highlights from the season so far include:
HURRICANES FLEXING MUSCLE AT THE PLATE
• After a five-homer weekend at Virginia, the Canes have hit 50 home runs over the first 37 games in 2019.
• UM, which is tied for the ACC lead with 50 homers, matched its 2018 season total of 23 home runs after just 15 games in 2019.
• Miami ranks sixth nationally in home runs as a team, tied with fellow ACC foe Wake Forest.
• 1B Alex Toral is tied for the ACC lead with a team-best 14 home runs, while 3B Raymond Gil is second on the team and tied for seventh in the ACC with nine homers.
• Ten different Hurricanes have hit at least one home run in 2019.
“EL CABALLO” DEL CASTILLO DELIVERING
• Freshman Adrian Del Castillo opened his career with a 15-game hit streak and has reached base in 34 of the first 37 games in 2019.
• A versatile player, Del Castillo has been entrenched in the middle of Miami’s lineup, batting third twice and cleanup 35 times.
• Del Castillo’s 44 RBI and 13 doubles lead the Hurricanes, while his 48 hits are tied for first with Gil. He has a team-high 14 multi-hit games and 10 multi-RBI outings.
PITCHERS PUNCHING OUT COMPETITION
• Four Canes entered late April ranked in the top 20 in the ACC in strikeouts: Evan McKendry (3rd, 64 K), Brian Van Belle (T-14th, 53), Chris McMahon (T-14th, 53) and Greg Veliz (T-17th, 51).
• Junior right-hander Evan McKendry has had eight or more strikeouts in six starts in 2019 and is averaging 10.54 K/9.
• Junior right-hander Greg Veliz is averaging 15.19 K/9 and is second among ACC relievers with 51 strikeouts in 30.2 innings pitched.
• Redshirt junior right-hander Brian Van Belle ranks fourth in the ACC with 21 batters struck out looking, while freshman RHP Slade Cecconi is tied for ninth with 17 batters caught looking.
“This is the right time,” UM head coach Gino DiMare told me on the Hurricane Hotline after the sweep over Virginia. “We talked about it before the series began that now is the time to make a move.”
The Canes have had plenty of offense this year, leading the league in team batting (.296) and ranking second in pitching (3.69 ERA). Its kryptonite has been defense, as the Canes are 12th of 14 teams in the ACC with 48 errors.
“We have the ability to hit the ball out of the ballpark, which we haven’t done the past few years, and it certainly makes it a lot easier,” DiMare said.
Spring practice concluded in April. Next the players have to take it upon themselves to get ready for fall camp. Before you know it August 24th and the Gators will be here.
“We’ve got some things on tape, where now the guys in the summer, when they go work on their own, can at least understand how we’re functioning and come back in August an even better team,” head coach Manny Diaz told us on the Hotline.
As far as the quarterbacks are concerned, a starter will not be named until the fall and not right now, Coach Diaz said
“I think it’s still what you would imagine at this point,” Diaz said. “I think we’re all still trying to figure out what we’re doing. But what was pleasing to us from where we started in spring, it was night and day.”
