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.
 
LORENZO HAMPTON, OF, Junior
 
What were you doing last baseball season?

LH: Last year I was at the University of California. I didn't play much last year. I played some at the beginning of the year but I didn't get too much playing time. I played last summer in the Valley League and I did well there.

What is your best baseball experience?

LH: Last summer there were 12 games left in the Valley League season and we were three games out of last place. My team went 11-1 and got the number four seed in the playoffs. We went all the way to the championship before losing. That run of 11-1 was fun because nobody expected us to do that.



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

LH: Game 162 when Evan Longoria hit the walk-off home run for the Rays that put them in the playoffs. The game went until 12:31 in the morning and I stayed up with my mom watching the Red Sox game, the Blue Jays game and the Rays/Yankees game at the same time. Watching him walk it off was great. He's my favorite player.

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

LH: I know how to play a bunch of different instruments. I know how to play all the wind instruments. I know how to play the saxophone, the trumpet. When I was in fifth or sixth grade I learned how to play the instruments.  

FIU coach Mervyl Melendez says about Hampton:

"Lorenzo will command one of the outfield spots. He's a power-hitting outfielder that is able to run and is one of our best athletes."

2018 FIU PANTHERS
Logan Allen
Diandre Amion
Seth Cannady
Derek Cartaya
Steven Casey
Frank Chacon
Adan Fernandez
Jose Garcia
Andrew George
Michael Harkcom
Everett Hurst
Christian Khawam
Kobe Lopez
Nick MacDonald
Tyler Myrick
Andres Nunez
Davy Phrathep
Chandler Raiden
Will Saxton
Austin Shenton
Eddie Silva
Juan Teixeira
Javier Valdes