ORLANDO, Fla. – UCF baseball and head coach Greg Lovelady announced twelve additions to the 2021 roster on Monday. Lovelady enters his fifth season at the helm of the Knights and currently holds a 126-68 record over his career at UCF.
"I'm really excited about the talent and depth of this class. The staff did a great job of evaluating and identifying talent that could really help continue the growth of the program," said Head Coach Greg Lovelady. "The two Grad Transfer's on the mound really fill the two major holes left by Jeff [Hakanson] and Trevor [Holloway]'s departure, and with not losing many offense pieces, we bring in some really talented kids that are going to push for playing time and challenge the returners. This whole class really sets the foundation for the future of our program," Lovelady finished.
The newest Knights will have the task of replacing nine members from the 2020 squad that spent most of the abbreviated season in the national spotlight – topping out at No. 12 in the D1Baseball.com, USA Today, Perfect Game, and Collegiate Baseball News polls at the unexpected conclusion of the 2020 campaign.
Despite a shortened 2020 Major League Baseball Draft, two former Knights began their professional careers as Jeff Hakanson was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays as the 155th overall pick while Trevor Holloway signed a free agent deal with the New York Yankees.
Lovelady's newest recruit class features seven pitchers, two outfielders, two infielders and a catcher. Bringing collegiate experience to John Euliano Park, two of the new class join the Knights as transfers, while 10 will take the field for the first time as freshman.
4 Vince Bonanni
Fr. | RHP | 6-3 | 195| Jupiter, Fla. / Cardinal Newman
8 AJ Jones
Sr. | RHP | 6-5 | 220 | Sarasota, Fla. / Jacksonville University
11 Kenny Serwa
R-Jr. | RHP | 6-1 | 192 | Chicago, Ill. / Saint Patrick
14 JoJo Coffey
Fr. | RHP | 5-11 | 175 | Winter Garden, Fla. / Montverde Academy
15 Zack Bennett
RHP | 6-5 | 220 | Fr. | Port Orange, Fla. / Spruce Creek
20 Hunter Parris
LHP | 5-10 | 150 | Fr. | Vero Beach, Fla. / Vero Beach
22 Colin Flynn
OF/C | 6-1 | 190 | Fr. | Coral Springs, Fla. / Marjory Stoneman Douglas
24 Alex Freeland
INF | 6-2 | 200 | Fr. | Cape Coral, Fla. / Mariner
30 Matthew Menendez
1B/C | 6-2 | 195 | Fr. | Pembroke Pines, Fla. / Elite Squad Baseball Academy
35 Nick Vieira
RHP | 6-6 | 220 | Fr. | Margate, Fla. / Elite Squad Baseball Academy
37 Ben Vespi
RHP | 6-3 | 190 | Fr. | Boynton Beach, Fla. / Central Florida Elev8
42 John Montes
INF | 6-0 | 170 | Fr. | Toa Alta, Puerto Rico / Leadership Christian Academy
Click here to view the full 2021 UCF baseball roster
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