MIAMI (Jan. 27, 2020) – With a little under a month until the 2020 campaign gets underway, FIU baseball's Mervyl Melendez set his sights on the future as he welcomes a handful of new Panthers into the fold.
 
The 2020 class features 11 players in total, with all hailing from the Sunshine State and one signee making the short trip from Puerto Rico.
 
"This is a very deep class and specific class that addresses the needs of our program," Melendez said. "From pitching to hitting these players possess what we are looking for in a baseball player."
 
A total of six signees are slated as position players, while five will come in as pitchers. The 2020 class features three players whose fathers had an extensive history in the MLB, with Dante Girardi (Joe Girardi), Raul Ibanez (Raul Ibanez), Orlando Hernandez (Orlando Hernandez "El Duque") all growing up around big league clubhouses.
 
Asher Akridge (OF | Gainesville, Florida | Santa Fe HS)
 
Hitting Coach Dax Norris on Akridge: "Asher is a 6.3 runner, who is very athletic with a body to put on more weight. An outfielder who can run down balls and his arm has improved. Big potential with the bat as he continues to develop."
 
Miguel Alba (RHP | Weston, Florida | Miami Dade CC)
 
Pitching Coach Willie Collazo on Alba: "Miguel is a RHP coming from Miami Dade Community College that will come in and help us right away with his ability to pitch. He has really good command and feel of his pitches."
 
Matthew Fernandez (RHP | Miami, Florida | Florida Christian)
 
Coach Collazo on Fernandez: "Matt is a pitcher that everyone would love to have on the staff. He is a strike-thrower and has the ability to pitch."
 
Adrian Figueroa (1B/LHP | Miami, Florida | Doral Academy)
 
Coach Norris on Figueroa: "Adrian is a left-handed first basemen who is very good defensively. He is lefty hitter who has a middle/oppo approach with the power potential that has not been tapped into yet. He has a line drive swing that can hit any pitcher. He also has a very balanced and loose swing with good discipline of the strikes zone."
 
Dante Girardi (INF | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Calvary Christian)
 
Coach Norris on Girardi: "Dante is an infielder who is very athletic and swings the bat well. A right-handed hitter with power. The ball jumps off the bat. He is another bat that is a middle of the order type bat that can impact the game. He is very mature player for his age because he's grown up around pro players and it shows. His father, Joe, is the new Phillies manager."
 
 Orlando Hernandez (RHP | Miami, Florida | Florida Christian)
 
Coach Collazo on Hernandez: "Orlando is a young RHP with a really good work ethic and pitch ability. He is a pitcher that is very fun to watch. His father, Orlando, pitched in the MLB."
 
Reynaldo Hernandez (INF | Miami, Florida | Florida Christian)
 
Coach Norris on Hernandez: "Reynaldo is a left side of the infield player who hits. He is a left-handed bat with power potential and a solid gap-to-gap approach. He has a very good strike zone discipline, in part because he was a four-year starter."
 
Raul Ibanez (INF | Pinecrest, Florida | Westminster Christian)
 
Coach Norris on Ibanez: "Raul has an athletic frame with room to add more. He is another player that comes from big league blood lines. His father, Raul Ibanez, played for 18 years in MLB. He is a contact hitter with an advanced approach at the plate."
 
Steven Ondina (INF | Gurabo, Puerto Rico | International Baseball Academy)
 
Coach Norris on Ondina: "Steven is a very good and quick middle infielder who has a strong arm and can throw from different slots. He possesses a very quick release on double plays and has the potential to be an elite defender. He is a right-handed hitter who impacts the game with speed and bat and is a gap-to-gap hitter who can also turn on balls."
 
Shawn Perez (RHP | Cutler Bay, Florida | Coral Reef Senior HS)
 
Coach Collazo on Perez: "Shawn is a tall athletic RHP that is able to come in and pitch right away at this level."
 
Brenden Vern (RHP | Lakeland, Florida | George W. Jenkins HS)
 
Coach Collazo on Perez: "Brenden is a really good acquisition that can help us in late innings coming out of the pen. He is aggressive and attacks hitters very well. He is also very athletic."
 
FIU opens the season on Friday, Feb. 14 at home as the Panthers host Fordham. First pitch between the Panthers and Rams is slated for 7:00 p.m.
Season tickets for the 2020 season can be purchased by clicking here.

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