Barry, NSU and Miami Dade College baseball teams feature new coaches in 2024
Rich Witten – who is set to start just his second season at FIU – is somehow one of the longest-serving head coaches among Dade or Broward college baseball programs.
The most well-known change came at the University of Miami, where Gino DiMare resigned, and pitching coach J.D. Arteaga was promoted to replace him.
At Barry University, Juan Ranero left for a high school job in Georgia (Westminster Academy), and third-base coach Brett Young was promoted to the top job.
With DiMare in need of a pitching coach, the Hurricanes hired Laz Gutierrez away from Nova Southeastern University. Gutierrez had been NSU’s head coach the past four years.
The chain reaction continued at NSU, which hired Miami Dade College’s Adrian Morales to replace Gutierrez. MDC then hired long-time scout and prep coach Lazaro Llanes to replace Morales.
Only the two NAIA schools in Dade and Broward – St. Thomas and Florida Memorial – have escaped the coaching version of musical chairs. Jorge Perez, the dean of local coaches, has been at STU since 2009. Florentino “Tino” Borges has been at FMU since the summer of 2016.
Here’s a closer look at the major non-Division I college baseball programs in Dade and Broward:
▪ The Barry Bucs went 35-19 last season, winning the South Regional before losing in a super regional to eventual national runner-up Rollins.
Barry returns two all-conference players: right fielder Braden Forchic and left fielder Kevin Noriega. Forchic led the team in hitting (.356), homers (10) and slugging percentage (.658). Noriega hit .345 with team highs in doubles (21) and total bases (103).
They will hit in the middle of the lineup along with junior-college transfer Felix Diaz, a corner infielder.
Young, who is from South New Jersey, has 12 players on his roster who were born in that same Greater Philadelphia area, including Forchic and Diaz.
“We want blue-collar, hard-nosed kids, and (Philly-Jersey) guys are not even outside playing baseball at this time of the year,” Young said. “You get them down here, and they’re fired up and ready to go.
“We also want guys who are strong and explosive – quick-twitch players who can run.”
The Bucs are well on their way toward reaching that goal. Last year, they set a program record with 132 steals.
However, the Sunshine State Conference is difficult. For example, Barry enters this season ranked 15th in the nation but yet just fifth in the conference.
“There are no easy wins in this league,” Young said. “It’s the SEC of Division II.”
▪ NSU finished 26-23 last season, including an 8-13 road record. This season, NSU has been picked to finish sixth in the Sunshine State Conference. NSU’s four all-league players have all departed the school: pitcher Carlos Rey; second baseman Duncan Pastore, DH Daniel Irisarri and pitcher Cooper Omans.
▪ MDC (junior college) finished 34-16-1 last season, losing in the state semifinals. Two MDC players were drafted off of last season’s team – first baseman Wooyeoul Shin, who went in the 16th round and signed with the Rays; and pitcher Herick Hernandez, who was drafted in the 19th round but turned down the Reds and will play this season for the Hurricanes.
Llanes said right-hander Miguel Fernandez – who arrived here from Cuba 18 months ago – will lead the pitching staff, and the son of David “Big Papi” Ortiz’s son tops the hitters. That would be third baseman D’Angelo Oriz, who started for MDC in the second half of last season, hitting .380.
“We have only three returners,” Llanes said. “But our players have adapted well to the new staff.”
▪ St. Thomas (NAIA) has been picked to finish third in the Sun Conference. The Bobcats, who finished 27-24 in 2022-2023, will be led this season by second baseman Chris Schoeller, first baseman Angelo Piloto and center fielder Kendry Noriega. All three made either first- or second-team all-league last year.
▪ Florida Memorial (NAIA) has been picked to finish sixth in the Sun Conference. Lions standouts include right-hander Max Charnin and shortstop Ulises Rodriguez.
