Florida Atlantic Baseball: A Team on the Rise

The Florida Atlantic University baseball team is a team on the rise. Under the leadership of Head Coach John McCormack, the team has seen great success in recent years

Introduction

In recent years the Florida Atlantic Owls baseball team has made dramatic improvements, going from one of the worst teams in NCAA Division I to a Conference USA powerhouse. Under the leadership of head coach John McCormack, the Owls have won two conference championships and made four consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament The team has also gained national recognition, finishing as high as No. 17 in the nation in 2016.

With a strong core of returning players and a top-ranked recruiting class the Owls are poised for another successful season in 2017. Florida Atlantic will once again be among the favorites to win the Conference USA title, and another trip to the NCAA Tournament is well within reach.

The Team

Florida Atlantic University’s Baseball Team is a team on the rise. The Owls have been to four straight NCAA Tournaments and have won three consecutive Conference USA Championships. They are currently ranked No. 25 in the nation by Baseball America

FAU has produced some big-time players, including Major League All-Star Carl Crawford and current Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado The Owls have also sent several players to the minors, including pitcher Kyle Drabek and infielder Austin Adams.

The team is coached by John McCormack, who has led the Owls to their four NCAA tournament appearances. McCormack was named Conference USA Coach of the Year in 2012 and 2013.

The Roster

The Roster
The 2020 Florida Atlantic University baseball team consists of thirty-four outstanding young men. Head Coach John McCormack has assembled a group of student-athletes that represent not only the university well, but also the community. The team is made up of players from all over the country, with eighteen states being represented. Coach McCormack and his staff have done an excellent job in recruiting talented players that also have high character. Below is a list of the 2020 Florida Atlantic University baseball roster sorted by position:

Pitchers
-Kyle Marman RHP Jr. 6’2” 195 Floral City, FL (Citrus)
-Jake Miednik LHP Sr. 6’9” 260 Hudson, FL (West Florida Christian Academy)
-Cory Balous RHP Sr. 6’3” 185 Davie, FL (Archbishop Edward A McCarthy)
-Mason Minzey RHP So. 6’4” 205 Oviedo, FL (Oviedo)
-Matthew Pitts RHP Fr. 6’2″ 185 Orlando, FL (First Academy)

The Schedule

The Owls have a 56-game regular season schedule, which features 27 home games and 29 road games. The schedule is backloaded with conference games, as the Owls will play 28 of their final 36 regular season games against conference foes.

The Fans

Fau Baseball is still a relatively new program, having only started in 2001. Nevertheless, the team has seen a lot of success in recent years and their fans have taken notice. The fans are passionate and supportive, creating an electric atmosphere at home games

attendance has been on the rise in recent years as the team has become more successful. In 2015, the average game had 1,325 fans in attendance. This number increased to 1,584 in 2016 and 1,711 in 2017. The fans are clearly invested in the team and its success.

The team is also supported by a strong student section known as the “Owls Nest.” The students provide a unique and lively atmosphere at games, adding to the overall experience.

Overall, Fau Baseball has a bright future ahead of it and its fans are a big part of that.

The Ballpark

FAU baseball stadium located on the FAU Boca Raton campus, is the Owls’ home field. The stadium has a capacity of 6,291 and opened in 2007. The facility underwent a $2.5 million renovation prior to the 2012 season that included the installation of a state-of-the-art LED lighting system, an expanded concourse, new concessions and restrooms, upgraded chairback seating, a new press box and an entry plaza. In November 2014, the program unveiled renderings for Phase II of the stadium’s expansion which will add 1,000 chairback seats, bringing capacity to over 7,000. The project is set to be completed in time for the 2015 season.

The Coaches

Head coach John McCormack enters his third season as the FAU skipper in 2019. The 2018 campaign marked a turning point for the program as the Owls won 30 games for the first time since 2010 and qualified for their first-ever NCAA regional appearance. Overall, McCormack has led FAU to a 83-59 (.585) record, including a 41-28 (.594) mark in Conference USA play, good for third place in the League Standings In 2017, he was named the Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year after guiding the Owls to their second conference tournament title in program history and a berth in the NCAA Tallahassee Regional.

Assistant coaches Alex Kochner and Brad Weitzel enter their second seasons with the Owls in 2019. Kochner, who was promoted to Assistant Coach after serving as a volunteer assistant in 2018, is responsible for working with the team’s hitters and infielders. Weitzel, who came to FAU after three seasons at Hofstra, works with the team’s pitchers and catchers.

The Record

The Florida Atlantic University baseball team has seen a resurgence in the last few years. The team made it to the NCAA tournament in 2016 and came within one game of the College World Series The team’s success is due in large part to head coach John McCormack, who has led the team to 3 conference championships in his 6 years at the helm. The team’s success on the field has led to increased interest from fans, and the program is now one of the most popular on campus.

The Future

The future looks bright for the Florida Atlantic Baseball Team The team has a strong core of young players and the Coaching Staff is committed to developing them into a contender in the tough American Athletic Conference

The Owls have made steady progress in recent years, and with another year of experience, they should be ready to take the next step. The pitching staff looks particularly strong, with a mix of experienced returnees and talented newcomers. If the Owls can get some timely hitting, they could be a dangerous team in 2019.

It will be exciting to see how this young team develops over the course of the season. There is no doubt that they have the talent to compete at a high level. With their hard work and dedication, the sky is the limit for this Florida Atlantic Baseball team

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Florida Atlantic baseball team is a team on the rise. With a strong core of young players they are poised to make some noise in the coming years. Keep an eye on this team, they are sure to be a force to be reckoned with in the future.