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.
 
Jan Figueroa, RHP, Freshman
 
What were you doing last baseball season?

JF: I was in my high school, the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy, in Puerto Rico. I pitched during my time there.

What is your best baseball experience?

JF: The biggest tournament in Puerto Rico is called El Torneo de Excellencia. I played there as a junior. Usually most of the players there are seniors. Having the opportunity to play as a junior was big for me. My team won the championship.

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

JF: When Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores was going to be traded in the middle of a game and seeing him crying on the field at shortstop during the game shows how much baseball really means. The passion a player has for baseball and the passion a player has for his team. That's the kind of teammate you want to have. And just a couple of nights later Flores hit a game-winning home run for the Mets in an important game against the Nationals.



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

JF: I'm from Puerto Rico and I really enjoy going to the beach. When I need to de-stress I usually go to the beach.

FIU coach Mervyl Melendez says about Figueroa:

"Figueroa is a young arm with lots of potential. Look for him to continue to grow and he will be one of our top guys throughout the season."
 
2018 FIU PANTHERS
Logan Allen
Diandre Amion
Seth Cannady
Derek Cartaya
Steven Casey
Frank Chacon
Adan Fernandez
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