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.
 
Gio Soto, RHP, Sophomore
 
What are your thoughts on last season?

GS: I expect better of myself. I felt like I could have done more things to help this team win last season. Last year was a great learning experience. I hope I can have a bigger impact this year.

What is your best baseball experience?

GS: Last year our win versus Miami here at home. I have never seen someone [Kolby Follis] tag up from second base and score. And on top of that it was the winning run. It was a great overall team win. I hope we have more of those this year.

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

GS: When Yordano Ventura passed away I loved how the entire MLB community came together as one to mourn the loss of such a great young talent. For me I loved watching Yordano pitch. I loved his mound presence. That's something I'm trying to mimic to have the same tenacity that he did.



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

GS: I pretty sure I'm the only Hispanic on this team that does not speak Spanish at all. My dad is Puerto Rican and my mom is Mexican and I do not know a word of Spanish. Since my last name is Soto, in school the teachers thought I instantly knew Spanish so they put me in advanced Spanish classes and I had no idea what was going on so I never learned the language.

FIU coach Mervyl Melendez says about Soto:

"Gio has made a 180 turnaround. He has been very strong this fall. His velocity has climbed. It's been really good. Look for him to be one of the set-up guys this year."
 
2018 FIU PANTHERS
Logan Allen
Diandre Amion
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
Kobe Lopez
Nick MacDonald
Jose Machado
Tyler Myrick
Andres Nunez
Davy Phrathep
Chandler Raiden
Will Saxton
Austin Shenton
Eddie Silva
Juan Teixeira
Javier Valdes