ORLANDO, Fla. – With the departure of the entire starting infield from the 2019 squad, the Knights will have an entirely fresh look taking the diamond on opening weekend. Among the new faces are two returners coming off of redshirt seasons, three transfers, and three freshman.
#2 // Matt Archer // Fr.
A two-year letter winner at Saint Thomas Aquinas High School in Miami, Fla. Matt Archer comes to Orlando's Hometown Team looking to make an impact year one. Archer was a two-time Miami Herald First-Team All-County honoree and Miami Herald Broward County Player of the Year after his senior season. His senior year, he drove in 20 runs while carrying a .462 average and scoring 38 runs on his way to being named Team MVP.
#6 // Tom Josten // So.
Entering his first season with the Knights, Tom Josten will get the nod at the hot corner to start the year. Josten spent a single season with Marshalltown Community College in Central Iowa where he played 45 games. He was named to the Second-Team All-Region in the ICCAC Region at the conclusion of the 2019 campaign after compiling a .308 batting average, slugging 11 home runs and driving in 33 runs.
#13 // J.J. Gonzalez // Fr.
J.J. Gonzalez adds depth to the Knights infield, getting work on the left side during the fall. The Plant City native was a four-year letter winner at Plant City high School and two-time Perfect Game Underclass All-American.
#17 // Nick Romano // Jr.
Battling for a starting spot at first, Nick Romano comes to Orlando after spending two seasons with St. Johns River State College. Romano played 51 games last season and hit 10 home runs on his way to collecting 57 RBI. He tallied a .348 batting average on the season.
#21 // Noah Orlando // Jr.
After the departure of Brandon Hernandez at shortstop, hometown kid Noah Orlando looks to fill the void. Hernandez made 104 consecutive starts in the six-hole, leaving big shoes to fill for Orlando. The Edgewater High School product appeared in 34 games for Palm Beach State with a .318 batting average across 132 at-bats. In the field, Orlando maintained a .926 fielding percent.
#26 // Andrew Brait // Fr.
Andrew Brait is one of three freshman joining the infield corps for the Knights in 2020. He was a four-year letter winner at Viera High School and hit a .363 clip with a .508 on base percent for the 2019 season. He was ranked 500 nationally by Perfect Game among 2019 high school seniors and earned the title of Viera High School MVP.
#32 // Ben Rushing // R-Fr.
After spending his first season with UCF as a redshirt, Ben Rushing will make an impact on the infield in 2020. Rushing was a four-year starter for Cypress Bay High School where he was named a 2018 Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and earned All-District honors as a senior. He will also spend time catching in the upcoming season.
#39 // Connor Allen // R-So.
Connor Allen began his collegiate career with the University of Miami, where he saw action in four games, including one start in 2018. Allen had to sit out during the 2019 season due to NCAA transfer regulations but looks to be a staple for the Knights at first-base in 2020.
DON'T MISS OUT
The UCF baseball team is set for its fourth season under head coach Greg Lovelady and will welcome seven teams from the 2019 NCAA Tournament to John Euliano Park in 2020. Click here or call (407) 823-1000 for ticket information.
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