By Pete Pelegrin
Twitter: @Petepelegrin

With more than half of its roster comprised of new players the FIU baseball team has such a different look this coming season that you might need to hand out "Hello, My Name is" stickers at the FIU ballpark. Since there are so many new faces, from now until Opening Day on Feb. 16 when Missouri comes to town for a three-game series, we'll profile the newest Panthers as well as the returning FIU ballplayers. Leading off the Meet the Panthers series is Diandre Amion.

DIANDRE AMION, Outfielder, (Junior)

What were you doing last baseball season?

DA: I was at Alabama State where I played left field and hit .333. I played my freshman year there for [former Alabama State coach and current FIU coach] Merv [Melendez]. I was a designated hitter my freshman year because we had a stud left fielder.

What is your best baseball experience?

DA: I would say my freshman year at Alabama State when we won the conference tournament and then playing in the NCAA regional at Florida State. That was an awesome experience with all the big crowds.

Give me an example of a game or a moment that makes baseball such a great game.

DA: Joe Carter hitting a walk-off home run to win the 1993 World Series. He won the World Series for the Blue Jays when he hit that home run off of Phillies closer Mitch Williams in Game 6. I'm not a Blue Jays fan. I'm a Red Sox fan but I think that was such a great moment in baseball. There is probably nothing better than walking off the World Series with a home run.



You are a psychology major. Just for fun tell me your psychological analysis of somebody on the team.

DA: I would say there are times when [outfielder] Lorenzo Hampton has split personalities. There are times when he's really quiet and there are times when you can't get him to be quiet. He is 100 percent the biggest talker on the team and he keeps us going.

FIU coach Mervyl Melendez says about Amion:

"Diandre is a pure hitter. He has the ability to hit for average and some power."