By Brett Shweky/Sports Director
For the first time in FIU baseball history, three players earned Freshman All-American honors in the same season.
On June 7th, this year’s Collegiate Baseball Newspaper announced that right-hander Nick MacDonald, right-hander Tyler Myrick, and infielder Javier Valdes were apart of this exclusive group.
MacDonald posted a 7-3 record while earning a 4.29 ERA this past season. In nine of this thirteen starts this season, the right-hander restricted opposing batters to three runs or less. While pitching out of the Friday and Sunday slots, MacDonald pitched in 71 ⅓ innings and accumulated 68 strikeouts.
MacDonald also earned Conference USA pitcher of the Week last season in the early part of the schedule. He shredded the Manhattan batters as he pitched 7 2-3 innings, allowed only one run and struck out nine batters.
That game being one of MacDonald’s first starts in his collegiate career, the right-hander acknowledged the award had some greater meaning.
“Of course it’s special, it was special because it really was my second start in my collegiate career” explained MacDonald. “It doesn’t happen however, if my team doesn’t play at the high-level they’ve been playing at”.
Myrick, who consistently started on Saturday games, was able to lead all FIU starters with an outstanding 3.73 ERA last season. Myrick was able to have a 6-2 record and allowed three runs or less in nine out his ten starts this previous year.
The right-hander was able to establish a seven-game stretch where he was able to limit the opposing team to three runs or less. Myrick pitched through 72 ⅓ innings, struck out 57 batters, while only walking 28.
Last season, Myrick’s best performance came against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers where he threw a seven inning shutout. He struck out six batters and secured the 6-0 victory.
Valdes was a cornerstone of the Panther’s offense last season, batting a .287 average while also securing five home runs and 36 RBI this last season. The Miami native finished third on the team with 11 doubles and was fourth on the team with 56 total hits.
The infielder’s had his best game of the season against Western Kentucky on May 18th. Nearly hitting for the cycle, going 3-for-5 with a single, triple, and home run. Valdes posted seven RBI against the Hilltoppers as the Panthers went on to a 23-6 victory.
Last season, when Valdes hit his first collegiate home run he said that it definitely played a factor in his confidence increasing going forward.
“It was bound to happen” said the infielder. “Unfortunately it happened this late in the year, but I’m really glad that I got that it happened because it really built some confidence in me. I’d been in a hitting slump as of late, so it’s nice to have more confidence while going up to the plate.”
The three Freshman All-Americans tied FIU for the most by any team in the nation and also exceeded all the other programs in Florida.
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