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.
 
MICHAEL HARKCOM, INF, Freshman
 
What were you doing last baseball season?

MH: I transferred to FIU from Florida Southern College so I sat out last season. I played for [FIU coach] Merv [Melendez] when I was younger in summer ball travel teams along with his son M.J. and Logan Allen. Merv recruited me out of high school to Alabama State where he used to coach.

What is your best baseball experience?

MH: In high school in one of our rivalry games against Trinity Prep we played a 14-inning game and we ended up winning. I pitched nine innings and hit a home run. It was a pretty exciting game.

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

MH: When Dee Gordon hit a home run to lead off the first game after the death of Jose Fernandez. It was a tear-jerking moment and I think people will remember that moment as something that is bigger than baseball. A moment like that makes baseball such a great game.



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

MH: Well this is kind of related to baseball, I can do the best bat tricks of anyone on this team. It's in my intro video on the scoreboard. I do pretty good imitations of batting stances. I can imitate our whole team's batting stances. Javy Valdes does it real well too. I can also do [Red Sox outfielder] Mookie Betts's batting stance.

FIU coach Mervyl Melendez says about Harkcom:

"Harkcom is a utility infielder, who will most likely play every position in the infield. He can help us in multiple areas and he's a good hitter."
 
2018 FIU PANTHERS
Logan Allen
Diandre Amion
Seth Cannady
Derek Cartaya
Steven Casey
Frank Chacon
Adan Fernandez
Jose Garcia
Andrew George
Christian Khawam
Kobe Lopez
Nick MacDonald
Tyler Myrick
Andres Nunez
Davy Phrathep
Chandler Raiden
Will Saxton
Austin Shenton
Eddie Silva
Juan Teixeira
Javier Valdes