Compared to the 2014 FIU team, the Panthers outfield in 2015 will have three new starters and new reserves. Although Edwin Rios is not a new player he will be moving to a new position in right field. Rios played first base when he arrived at FIU two years ago and also played shortstop and second base.
Rios, who has been tabbed by several publications as the first Panther to be drafted later this coming summer, had his most productive season at FIU in 2013 when he hit .332 with 9 HR and 52 RBI. Rios hit .296 with 2 HR and 38 RBI last season. Rios led the team with 68 hits and 14 doubles last season and finished second with 38 RBI. Rios is coming off shoulder surgery and might be the designated hitter the first two weeks of the season.
If that's the case freshman Spencer Levine or California junior college transfer Brandon Cody could spell Rios in right field to open the season. Levine, a Miami Killian High product, had a good fall and good last week of practice including a home run that went well over the scoreboard in left center. Cody has good line drive power and hit a couple of home runs in the fall.
Brian Portelli, who played the outfield and DH-ed last season, is expected to be the starting left fielder. Portelli showed very good plate discipline last season and the ability to use all fields, hence the high batting average that he posted. Portelli hit .350 with 2 HR and 11 RBI in 103 at-bats last season as a platoon player. Portelli's .412 on-base percentage was third on the team in 2014.
Three players are vying for the starting center field job. Sophomore Kolby Follis and freshmen Jack Schaaf and Evan Holland are the three candidates. As of this post coach Turtle Thomas said the competition is too close to call. Schaaf is a left-handed bat. Follis and Holland are righties. All three can run led by Follis, who Thomas has said is the fastest player he's coached in his 40+ years of college baseball.
