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.
 
Chandler Raiden, RHP, Senior

What are your thoughts on last season?

CR: I didn't throw the way I wanted to. I came in some tough situations and felt like I had the stuff to get out of it but I didn't pull through. There were some times when I did pull through. I thought as a team we had a lot of potential last year. We had some tough losses. We had 11 one-run losses last season and that's something that I think we can turn around.

What is your best baseball experience?

CR: I think advancing through the final four in high school my senior year and making it to the state championship.

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

CR: Two years ago in the World Series when the Indians' Rajai Davis hit a two-run home run off Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman to tie Game 7. It was a game that went back and forth the whole time. I like Chapman being a back end of the bullpen guy myself. The way he goes out there and competes and throws it. Seeing someone hit a home run off Chapman shows that it can be done.



Tell me something away from baseball about you that someone might find interesting?

CR: I like the outdoors and spending time out there whether it be fishing or hunting. I like to be outside doing something.

FIU coach Mervyl Melendez says about Raiden:

"Chandler will be a reliever. We dropped his arm slot down a little bit and I think he will be very strong this year."

2018 FIU PANTHERS
Logan Allen
Diandre Amion
Derek Cartaya
Jose Garcia
Kobe Lopez
Andres Nunez
Javier Valdes