Head coach wants baseball team to play with ‘passion’

Heather O’Dell // Staff Writer

Head Coach Mervyl Melendez is now the fourth head coach in FIU baseball history, and bringing 17 years of coaching experience to FIU, he is looking forward to a successful season.

“It’s all about changing the philosophy of the team,” said Melendez. “It always takes time for a team to adjust to a new coach, but I feel like we have connected very well and the practices have been running great.”

Along with connecting with the players, Melendez emphasized the importance of energy.

“Energy is vital when it comes to any sport,” said Melendez. “I’m not talking about physical energy; I mean passion on the field. When a team plays with passion, nothing can stop them.”

Not only have players noticed a difference in how the practices are run, but also in their performance as individual players.

“I play with a different mindset now,” said Irving Thomas, the shortstop for FIU’s baseball team. “It’s all about teamwork this season.”

Melendez is looking forward to see how the seniors play this season. Being their last year playing at FIU, he hopes to see how they have excelled.

“Seeing seniors play is always a joy to me,” Melendez said. “They are the most experienced players on the field; Everyone looks up to them. They really do have the authority to set the mood for the team. I’m expecting big things from them.”

With a fresh face on the field and a new motivation within the team, the Panthers expect a successful season.

The Panthers take on Jacksonville State University on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. for the home opener. The game will be held at FIU’s Baseball Stadium.