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.
 
Christian Santana, RHP, Freshman

What were you doing last baseball season?

CS: Last year I was at American Heritage for my senior year of high school. The season went well but it should have been better but that's baseball and you don't play baseball on paper. We lost in the regional quarterfinals.

What is your best baseball experience?

CS: The first game that I pitched for Heritage my senior year. I felt I had to prove myself since I was the new guy on the team. I went out and threw a shutout against Pine Crest.

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

CS: The no-hitter that the Marlins' Edinson Volquez threw after the passing of Jose Fernandez and on Yordano Ventura's birthday. Both Fernandez and Ventura died in the same year and for Volquez to throw the no-hitter on Ventura's birthday was special.



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

CS: I am a very good video game player. Whatever game it is I like to pride myself upon my video game skills.

FIU coach Mervyl Melendez says about Santana:

"Santana had an outstanding fall. He will be one of our top pitchers whether he is a midweek starter or sometimes start on weekends as well and at times he may even be a closer. He is a really good arm for us."
 
2018 FIU PANTHERS
Logan Allen
Diandre Amion
Daniel Brown
Seth Cannady
Derek Cartaya
Steven Casey
Frank Chacon
Cody Cortelli
Adan Fernandez
Jan Figueroa
Greyson Fletcher
Jose Garcia
Andrew George
Lorenzo Hampton
Michael Harkcom
Everett Hurst
Christian Khawam
Matt Logullo
Kobe Lopez
Nick MacDonald
Jose Machado
Tyler Myrick
Andres Nunez
Davy Phrathep
Chandler Raiden
Will Saxton
Austin Shenton
Eddie Silva
Gio Soto
Juan Teixeira
Javier Valdes