Miami Herald (Sunday)

Recruit’s 102-mph fastball buoys Panthers’ hopes

- BY WALTER VILLA Miami Herald Writer

Right-hander Jermaine Vanheyning­en, who set a summer-league record in July with a fastball that was clocked at 102 mph, is one of the big reasons why FIU’s latest recruiting class has been ranked 25th in the nation by Baseball America.

FIU’s class — which is 16 players strong — is also

No. 1 in the nation among schools outside the “Power Five” conference­s.

“I’m very proud of the efforts our coaches put in,” FIU coach Mervyl Melendez said. “We found players who fit our program, and this ranking is the initial reward.”

FIU hitting coach/ recruiting coordinato­r Dax Norris and pitching coach Willie Collazo helped secure the class.

Collazo, for example, worked for six months on Vanheyning­en, a 6-6, 235pound junior-college transfer. Finally, one week before the MLB Draft in June, Vanheyning­en committed to FIU.

“A bunch of [MLB] teams wanted to sign him for $20,000 [as an undrafted free agent],” Collazo said.

Vanehyning­en could make much more in the 2021 MLB Draft if he proves himself in Division I baseball. When FIU opened fall practices last week, Vanheyning­en was lighting up radar guns, and he could be the team’s closer in 2021.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had a closer like this at FIU,” Collazo said.

Vanheyning­en, 21, is a native of Newark, New Jersey. He is bilingual, English and Spanish, as both his parents are from the Dominican Republic, and he has been focused on baseball since age 8.

After high school, he signed with Division I Campbell University, where he lasted just one year. He then played two years for Florence Darlington Tech in South Carolina before landing at FIU.

“Physically, I’ve always been gifted,” said Vanheyning­en, a computer science major set to graduate in 2021. “It was a matter of putting it together mentally, trusting my stuff and finding the right [college] fit.”

Vanheyning­en’s fastball normally ranges between 96-98 mph, but he can get to 100 and beyond when he has a batter with two strikes. His best off-speed pitch is a splitter, and he is working on sharpening his slider.

“The main reason I came to FIU was to show how good I think I am,” he said.

As for the rest of FIU’s class, Baseball America praised two other righthande­rs: Matthew Fernandez and Orlando Hernandez. Both are Florida Christian seniors, and the latter is the son of ex-MLB pitcher Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez.

Norris said Fernandez has been impressive this fall, even though his fastball is not overpoweri­ng

(89 to 90 mph).

“He was on the mound last week, and I don’t think he threw even one ball above the knees,” Norris said. “He takes charge.”

As for the hitters in this class, Melendez, using contacts in his native Puerto Rico, signed outfielder Mario Zabala and shortstop Steven Ondina.

Those two were teammates at Puerto Rico’s Internatio­nal Baseball Academy and are FIU’s highest-ranked prospects in this class.

Zabala, ranked No. 119 among all college incoming freshmen, has plus power and speed, but needs to refine his skills.

Ondina, ranked No. 149, has a plus arm and soft hands, tools that make him a premium defensive shortstop. Offensivel­y, with a smaller frame, he lacks big power, but he sprays line drives to all fields because of his quick hands.

Melendez said both players had chances to get drafted, but they expressed a desire to play for FIU instead.

“I hope this starts a trend on the island,” said Melendez, who noted that most Puerto Rican prospects prefer to bypass college and go straight to the pros.

Baseball America also praised Keys Charter third baseman Reynaldo Hernandez, a lefty power hitter; Calvary Christian shortstop Dante Girardi, who is the son of Philadelph­ia Phillies manager Joe Girardi; and Belen Jesuit catcher Christian Eiroa, who can hit the long ball.

Making FIU’s recruiting haul even more impressive is the fact that the Panthers have such stiff competitio­n in their home state, especially from the Miami Hurricanes, whose recruiting class is ranked No. 1 in the nation for the first time in that program’s history.

In addition, Florida’s class is ranked fifth and Florida State checks in at No. 11.

 ?? Florence Darlington Tech ?? Junior college transfer Jermaine Vanheyning­en, who can throw a 102 mph fastball, could be FIU’s closer next season.
Florence Darlington Tech Junior college transfer Jermaine Vanheyning­en, who can throw a 102 mph fastball, could be FIU’s closer next season.

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