Following last year’s very difficult season, the St. Petersburg College Titans baseball team is starting the 2023 season with tons of optimism.
At the conclusion of the 2022 season, it was clear that improvements needed to be made. The Titans struggled in several areas and faced the loss of longtime Head Coach, Ryan Beckman, who announced his resignation after the completion of the Fall term.
After a thorough search, SPC’s Athletic Department announced Oscar Espada as the new Head Coach for the Titans Baseball Program. Espada, an Iowa State alumnus, brought a long history of player and program development. In 2021, he served as an Assistant Coach at Mississippi Valley State University (NCAA Division I), where he oversaw pitching coach duties.
Espada's coaching staff will include pitching coach Kevin Lynn, catching coach Drew Brogdon and outfielders/baserunning coach Miguel "Bookie" Nunez. Lynn and Brogdon have strong backgrounds in player development, which will serve the Titans well. As for Nunez, his 32 years of college coaching and recruiting experience will add to the execution of fundamental baseball.
"I really appreciate the wealth of baseball knowledge on this coaching staff," Espada said in a statement. "They will bring a lifetime of baseball experience to the dugout to assist me. I wanted to make sure that all aspects of the game were covered, and these gentlemen have proven to have the same vision."
The 2022 Fall season was a very competitive one. With a combination of returning players, transfers and incoming freshmen, the Titans had a total of 42 players, of which only 26 would make the roster.
"Roster decisions are never easy, especially when every single player shows up ready to compete,” Espada said. “During our first team meeting, I asked the guys to make it difficult for us to decide on the final roster, and they definitely did that. It came down to the very last day."
The Titans impressed many during the Fall, displaying very high energy and a solid defense, as well as an improved pitching staff and offensive approach. Outfielders Logan Sanders and Torry Jones, catchers Nick Yedman and Chris Serrano and pitchers Tanner Goswick, Gavin Sissel and Manuel Meilan will lead the group of returning players, along with many other new faces.
Espada said he believes the final roster of players will compete well.
“We preach pitching and defense,” he said. “Our offensive approach is simple but showed results during the Fall. We will play a tough schedule against very good programs and in a very competitive conference, so it will be a matter of trying to transfer those results into the Spring.
The team will be put to the test very quickly, as the Titans begin their season on January 27, when they take on the Seminole State College of Florida at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex.
