Mike Shawaryn pumped his fist and yelled into the Florida sunshine, demonstratively celebrating a crucial double play that stifled the seventh-inning Seminole rally, preserving Maryland’s 3-0 lead.
“It was a big play so I let loose a little bit there," Shawaryn said. “I’m composed in between the lines but after I step off the mound on those big plays, you can let a little emotion go."
The Terp freshman allowed only one run on five hits over seven and one-third innings in front of 4,800 fans at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee. He is now 4-0 with a 0.75 ERA, having beaten two nationally ranked teams in his first month of college baseball.
Terps Senior Kyle Convissar Photo: John Vittas
“Shawaryn is extremely mature for his age and that’s why he’s had so much success,” Terps senior Kyle Convissar said. “He trusts his stuff and he knows what he’s capable of doing. He attacks the zone and he has a plan. It takes a special kind of guy to do that and I think he’s a special kind of guy.”
Convissar rocketed a two-run home run to left off Seminoles' starter Brandon Leibrandt in the fifth inning, giving Maryland that 3-0 lead.
“I got into a good count, 3-and-1 and I took advantage of it,” Convissar said. “Any time you hit a ball over the fence, it’s a one-of-a-kind feeling. I’m just happy to contribute back to the team.”
Maryland began the scoring early. Charlie White scored on Brandon Lowe’s RBI groundout in the first after Leibrandt fielded White’s bunt and threw it down the right field line to begin the afternoon. The score remained 1-0 until Convissar’s homer in the fifth. After Shawaryn’s dramatic double play, LaMonte Wade delivered a two-run double in the eighth, scoring Lowe and Michael Montville. Montville doubled down the line to begin the inning.
Alex Robinson got Maryland out of a jam in the eighth and Kevin Mooney struck out the side in the ninth to cap the big 5-1 win.
“It’s a great feeling," Shawaryn said. "As a team, this is a big win for us and the program. Just to come out here after the loss last night and dominate, it’s very special.”
Maryland (9-3, 1-1) is looking for its third consecutive winning season for the first time in 41 years, and has won nine of their first twelve to begin the year. The Terps earned votes in two of the four major polls earlier this week. A win against No. 2 Florida State again Sunday should put them into the top-25 for the first time in two years.
“Any time you can win at a place like this, it’s a big deal,” Convissar said. “But I think the fact that we played well today and with a lot of guys contributing, I think it shows that we have a pretty mature team. We have some momentum going into tomorrow.”
Jared Price (1-1, 5.27) will face off with FSU's Mike Compton (1-0, 2.70) in Sunday's rubber game. Coverage begins at 10:35 a.m. live from Tallahassee. You can hear the action by clicking here.
by John Vittas Originally Published for WMUC Sports (March 8, 2014)
Jake Stinnett took the loss against No. 2 Florida State Friday, but did win over the Florida State dugout.
"Coming into the game, we knew what he was about, how good of a pitcher he was," Seminoles starter Luke Weaver said. "He had a great night. The whole time I was just trying to compete with him and put up zeroes like he was. We just happened to get the edge."
At the onset of the FSU press conference, Hall of Fame head coach Mike Martin went out of his way to compliment the Terps' senior.
"I'll tell you what," Martin said. "Mister Stinnett was very impressive. He's got a good arm, a good breaking ball. He did a very good job."
Stinnett is 2-0 with 16 shutout innings at home so far in 2014, including a no-hitter against UMass Saturday. However, he is 0-2 with an ERA of 5.25 in the state of Florida this year. Both of those losses came against ranked teams, No. 20 Florida in the season opener and No. 2 Florida State in the ACC opener.
by John Vittas Originally Published for WMUC Sports (March 7, 2014)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - No. 2 Florida State beat Maryland 15-3 Friday night at Dick Howser Stadium.
“Anybody who sees the score of tonight’s game would think it was a laugher. It was far from that,” legendary Seminole head coach Mike Martin said.
The game was tied in the seventh inning before FSU scored 13 runs in their final two offensive innings. The six-run seventh began with back-to-back singles from Danny De La Calle and Josh Delph. The big blow in the inning came when freshman outfielder Ben DeLuzio cracked a bases-clearing triple to left-center, making the score 8-2.
“It was a well played baseball game and then a couple things happened and we took advantage of it,” Martin said.
Martin went on to compare DeLuzio’s speed to well-known NFL star Deion Sanders and St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Shane Robinson. Martin coached both of them at Florida State.
Luke Weaver earned the win, going seven innings for the Noles. He struck out eight and allowed just two runs on four hits.
“Luke Weaver pitched extremely well,” Martin said. “He was very dominating early. That was big time stuff.”
Game two of the three-game set begins at 2 p.m. Saturday. Coverage begins at 1:45 here on WMUC Sports. Mike Shawaryn will start for Maryland, with lefty Brandon Leibrandt pitching for Florida State.
by John Vittas Originally published for WMUC Sports (March 7, 2014)
The Terps enter this weekend’s series at No. 2 Florida State confident and riding a seven-game winning streak. Maryland has outscored their opponents 43-12 over that span.
“Our pitching’s been really good, obviously,” head coach John Szefc said. “Our defense has been pretty flawless too, we’re just trying to get some guys comfortable at the plate. We’re a little bit inconsistent offensively.”
Maryland swept UMass over the weekend, outscoring the Minutemen 17-3. Senior ace Jake Stinnett highlighted the series with the school’s seventh no-hitter Saturday, striking out nine and walking only two in the process. The California native will pitch Friday night against No. 2 Florida State.
“I feel really good about this team,” Stinnett said. “The vibe is very good. I can tell that we have a lot of guys that are confident in their ability and confident in this team and that’s something that’s contagious out on the baseball field. I see a lot of good things coming in the future."
Maryland’s only two losses have come against a nationally-ranked Florida Gators team. In years past, stealing one of three from a ranked team would be considered a success. But this year’s team was not happy with the result.
“After Florida, we were kind of kicking ourselves because we knew we could play better,” freshman pitcher Mike Shawaryn said.
Teammates echo those type of expectations. The Terps aren’t starstruck heading into Tallahassee. Instead, they view the No. 2 Seminoles as just another team in the way.
“We just see it as another game,” Sunday starter Jared Price said. “We’re very confident. We started off the season hot and we continue to get better every day.”
This year’s team is looking to finish with a winning record for the third consecutive season for the first time in 41 years. But that’s not the only goal. Two wins this weekend against the nation’s number two team should get the Terps into the top-25 and the national spotlight, as people in the game will start to view Maryland as a legitimate contender.
Originally Published on WMUC Sports (March 6, 2014)
The Terps' baseball team (8-2) is not intimidated by the prospect of facing Heisman trophy winner Jameis Winston and the second-ranked Florida State Seminoles this weekend in Tallahassee.
“He’s just another player we have to get through,” Sunday starter Jared Price said. “We just see it as another game. If we do our thing, we’ll win.
Winston hasn’t given up a run in six innings of relief this season. He’s also 3-for-7 at the plate, with a walk, double and RBI.
“After the game it’ll be cool [seeing Winston] during handshakes,” Saturday’s starting pitcher Mike Shawaryn said. “But once it’s in between the lines, it’s a game and you just revert back to the good old days of throwing strikes and playing baseball.”
by John Vittas Originally published for WMUC Sports (March 5, 2014)
Maryland freshman Mike Shawaryn strolls around practice like any other pitcher, laid back and unassuming. But when it comes time to work, Shawaryn's coolness is replaced with pinpoint focus. He doesn’t mess around.
“As a person, you can just tell he was someone who takes care of business, worked hard and was always on task,” Terps’ senior ace Jake Stinnett said. “That was the first thing I noticed about him. He wanted to know exactly what he was doing that day, exactly what the practice plan was. He was here to work hard and really make an impact.”
Through three starts, Shawaryn has done just that. After beating No. 20 Florida on the road in his first career Division I outing, Shawaryn has posted eleven consecutive shutout innings, a streak that will be on the line against No. 2 Florida State this weekend.
“He has really good makeup, he doesn’t get messed up mentally,” Maryland head coach John Szefc said. “He can reset himself and get back in the zone quick. He’s pitched in big situations before he got here, he has a good feel for pitching in pressure situations and he’s the kind of kid who welcomes the pressure.”
Shawaryn won four Non-Public A state titles during his time at Gloucester Catholic in New Jersey, while also adding multiple All-American accolades and an American Legion World Series title to his resume. Perfect Game USA ranked him the No. 4 prospect in the state.
“He’s strong mentally,” sophomore catcher Kevin Martir said. “He’s the kind of kid who wants the ball. He’s the kind of kid who gets outs.”
And outs are exactly what Shawaryn has gotten, fifty of them to be exact, to go with just ten hits and three walks. All in all, Shawaryn has allowed only 14 base runners in 16 and two-thirds innings this season. Opponents are hitting just .172 off him, and in case you were wondering, his ERA is a stingy 0.54 (1 ER allowed).
Shawaryn’s father, Michael, played football at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania. The younger Michael believes growing up in an athletic family has facilitated his success.
“It helps you with determination and work ethic,” Shawaryn said. “When I was younger, I would just play all the sports. I think the biggest thing it really helped is my competitiveness and drive. And that is still instilled in me today, just the drive to get it done and get the W.”
Shawaryn has become well acquainted with 'the W,’ having earned wins in each of his first three collegiate starts. His pitching has improved since high school, but his mindset remains the same.
“At this level, it’s still baseball. You take what you know from your roots. Even back in Little League, just throw strikes and you’ll be successful."
by John Vittas (@JohnVittas3)
Over the course of the offseason, Across the John has posted scouting reports on the top 40 prospects in the Mets system. With Spring Training in full swing, it's time to reveal the top five prospects in the Mets farm system heading into 2014.
Keep in mind, Across the John prospect rankings do not include any player who has already made their Big League debut. Therefore, you won't see names like Travis d'Arnaud or Wilmer Flores.
40. OF Darrell Ceciliani 39. RHP Luis Cessa 38. RHP Cameron Griffin 37. SS Jeff McNeil 36. OF Joe Tuschak 35. 1B Matt Oberste 34. RHP Hansel Robles 33. RHP Akeel Morris 32. OF Champ Stuart 31. OF Ivan Wilson To read the reports on prospects 31-40, click here. 30. RHP Rainy Lara 29. RHP Luis Mateo 28. OF Dustin Lawley 27. 3B Aderlin Rodriguez 26. OF Jared King 25. RHP Miller Diaz 24. RHP John Gant 23. 2B LJ Mazzilli 22. RHP Cory Mazzoni 21. RHP Tyler Bashlor For the reports on prospects 21-30, click here. 20. RHP Matt Bowman 19. RHP Robert Gsellman 18. OF Cory Vaughn 17. LHP Jack Leathersich 16. RHP Rob Whalen For reports on prospects 16-20, click here. 15. RHP Chris Flexen 14. RHP Michael Fulmer 13. RHP Gabriel Ynoa 12. SS Gavin Cecchini
11. INF Dilson Herrera For the article on prospects 11-15, click here. 10. RHP Domingo Tapia 9. 1B Jayce Boyd 8. SS Amed Rosario 7. C Kevin Plawecki 6. OF Brandon Nimmo For the article on prospects 6-10, click here.
5.Steven Matz - LHP
Ward Melville HS (NY) - 2nd Round of the 2009 Draft
Opening Day Age: 22
Projected Opening Day Assignment: High-A St. Lucie
General Numbers: gave up just 4.1 hits/start in 2013 (A-ball Savannah)
Relevant Numbers: yet to reach 140 innings in his career
Positives: After two years of rehab, Steven Matz has resurfaced as a prized prospect. The lefty from Long Island registered a full-season-player best 2.62 ERA over 21 starts for Savannah. His emergence in 2013 goes beyond the numbers, as his fastball has returned to the mid-90s. His curveball and changeup are weapons and he’s working on a slider which should help him against lefties (LH batters had more success than righties). His motion is smooth and repeatable and his command was great. I’ll be the first to call Matz a top-5 prospect, and I think that’s where he belongs.
Negatives: Durability and experience are major questions. With only 27 minor league games under his belt, the Ward Melville standout will be the least experienced player of anyone in the Florida State League. The Mets will continue to monitor his innings closely, and it’ll take a while to build up his season-long stamina.
Style: Cliff Lee
Across the John Preseason Rank: 19
ATJ Midseason Rank: 34
Jonathan Mayo Top 20: Not Ranked
Keith Law Top 10: Not Ranked
FanGraphs Rank: 8
Baseball America Top 10: Not Ranked
4.Dominic Smith - 1B
Serra HS (CA) - 1st Round of the 2013 Draft (11th Overall)
Opening Day Age: 18
Projected Opening Day Assignment: Extended Spring Training
General Numbers: .837 professional OPS straight out of high school (GCL and R-Kingsport)
Relevant Numbers: too early for these
Positives: Smith is a pure hitter - the best of the 2013 draft class according to some. It all comes naturally to him. His swing is as pretty as it gets and that may not even be his strongest tool. Scouts have already said he could become the best defensive first baseman in the game. It’s all way too premature, the kid is 18, but the hype will grab your attention. His hands and bat speed are noticeable, and many see him as the top position-player prospect in the system.
Negatives: TBD
Style: Ryan Howard (better defense and less power)
Across the John Preseason Rank: Not in the system
ATJ Midseason Rank: 14
Jonathan Mayo Rank: 7
Keith Law Rank: 3 (37th in baseball)
FanGraphs Rank: 3
Baseball America Rank: 4
3. Rafael Montero - RHP
Higuerito, Dominican Republic - Signed as International Free Agent
Opening Day Age: 23
Projected Opening Day Assignment: Triple-A Las Vegas
General Numbers: 3rd straight year with a sub-2.80 ERA
Relevant Numbers: 85 hits in 88 IPs in the hitter-friendly PCL
Positives: Rafael can locate better than anyone. His control has gotten him this far, but its been his velocity to improve and take him up the prospect lists. He hit 96 at the Futures Game in 2013, and his changeup is as good as it gets. MILB.com’s Sam Dykstra called him the most underrated prospect in baseball. http://milbprospective.mlblogs.com/2014/01/24/rounding-the-bases-top-100-talk/
The other positive is that he’s weeks away from making his Major League debut. I’d bet he beats Syndergaard and deGrom to Flushing in 2014.
Negatives: He’s only played three years in the Minors and has never had more Ks than innings pitched in any of those three years, leaving some worried that he’ll be hittable in the Majors.
Comparison: Jordan Zimmermann (without the breaking ball)
Across the John Preseason Rank: 6
ATJ Midseason Rank: 6
Jonathan Mayo Rank: 3 (85th in baseball)
Keith Law Rank: 4 (60th in baseball)
FanGraphs Rank: 5
Baseball America Rank: 3
2.Cesar Puello - OF
La Romana, Dominican Republic - Signed as International Free Agent
Opening Day Age: 23
Projected Opening Day Assignment: Triple-A Las Vegas
General Numbers: 39 XBH in 91 games (Double-A Binghamton)
Relevant Numbers: raised his average 66 points to .326 in 2013
Positives: No one has Cesar Puello ranked this high, but the guy is as close to a 5-tool player as anyone the Mets have. In a season overshadowed by his PED suspension, Puello had a breakout campaign in 2013, turning his elite tools into on-field dominance. Registering an OPS of .950, Puello was on his way to a 20 HR and 30 SB season before the suspension. He’s built like a truck, and Baseball America has tabbed his outfield arm the best in the system each of the past two years. For a team desperate for outfielders, people have consistently overlooked the best position player prospect in Puello.
Negatives: He took drugs, that’s never good. But Biogenesis is gone now, and hopefully Cesar is the same player while clean.
Style: Yasiel Puig (yes, Yasiel Puig)
Across the John Preseason Rank: 9
ATJ Midseason Rank: 2
Jonathan Mayo Top 20: 6
Keith Law Rank: 9
FanGraphs Top 15: Not Ranked
Baseball America Top 10: Not Ranked
1. Noah Syndergaard - RHP
Legacy HS (TX) - 1st Round of the 2010 Draft (38th Overall)
Opening Day Age: 21
Projected Opening Day Assignment: Triple-A Las Vegas
General Numbers: did not allow a run in 3 of his last 4 starts (Double-A Binghamton)
Relevant Numbers: 133 Ks, 28 walks in 117 innings
Positives: Where do you even begin? He’s 6-6, 230, throws 98 miles an hour, knows how to pitch, and has the attitude to boot. He’s athletic and has three plus-pitches. A mid-to-upper 90s fastball with sink, a mid-80s change and a h-h-hammer that leaves hitters screwing themselves into the ground. He’s smart, competitive and knows what it takes to be the best. The consensus is that he’ll be up mid-season, some time around July. Get used to saying Harvey-Wheeler-Syndergaard, because that’ll be the front three for at least four years.
Negatives: 2013 was the first time Noah made over 20 starts, and so his innings could be limited the next two seasons.
