MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (January 25, 2024) – The St. Thomas University (STU) Baseball team opens their season tonight at home at 6 p.m. against Montreat University. The Bobcats added some much needed depth in the bullpen, and will look to start the 2024 season on the right track.
 
The opening day starter on the mound will be Juan Polo. Polo started his career at Kansas Christian College where he had a 6.857 era, and 15.49 strikeouts. Game two will see a familiar face on the mound for STU in Chase Chatman. The lefty was solid for the Bobcats in 2023 having a 6.26 era, 81 strikeouts, and 3 wins. In game two of the double-header the Bobcats will see junior Carlos Polanco. Polanco was coming off an injury in 2023, but managed to have a 5.97 era, 36 strikeouts, and a 2-1 record.  In the final game of the four game series Yordani Carmona will take the lead. Last season Carmona had a 6.99 era, 41 K's, and 2 wins.
 
Some returners to be on the lookout for are Chris Schoeller, Kendry Noriega, and Angelo Pilioto. The captain Chris Schoeller is consistent for STU, and in 2023 had a .344 batting average, 67 hits, 9 homeruns, and 47 RBI's. Kendry Noriega is a ball hawk in Center Field. In 2023, he toted a .328 average at the plate, 59 hits, 8 homeruns, and 36 Homers. He always found a way to get on base, with a .463 on base percentage. Angleo Piloto has power like no one has seen. He had a .301 batting average, 11 Homeruns, 40 hits, 34 RBI's, and a .602 slugging percentage.
 
Newcomers to watch are Juan Polo, Luis Rodriguez, Ozzie Martinez, and Manuel DeGracia. After already going over the opening day starter Polo, Rodriguez is a University of Tampa transfer that plays behind the plate. The catcher had 13 hits, 10 RBI's, and a .500 slugging percentage in his time at Tampa. Ozzie Martinez is a transfer from Miami Dade College, and in 2023 he had 23 strikeouts, and 3 wins to his name. Last but not least, Manuel DeGracia transferred in from Wabash Valley College where he had a 3.62 era, 45 K's, and four wins in 22 appearences.