Each year, many college coaches can feel like they are replacing their whole rosters in the offseason. University of North Florida head baseball coach Joe Mercadante feels that his team is split between new players and returners. 

According to the 2026 UNF Baseball official roster, the Ospreys have 18 new players, including seven true freshmen and 11 transfers from junior colleges and other D1 schools. 

In addition to these new faces, UNF hired a new pitching coach, Parker Bangs, so the offseason for UNF baseball focused on getting to know one another, especially in the fall. 

“I think the bond that the guys have in the clubhouse is one of the most important things,” Mercadante said. “That’s something as a coach you want to do everything in your power to promote.”

However, Mercadante explained that he can only do so much. He can set up team-bonding activities, such as watching a movie or going paintballing, but it’s up to the new team to play for each other and apply that bond on the field. 

“The best teams are the ones where all the important stuff comes from the clubhouse,” the third-year head coach said. “It’s not from the coaching staff. They can kind of coach each other and that requires some accountability.”

So far, Mercadante has reported that the team is showing care for one another, building a culture on and off the field. But the 56-game season, which starts this Friday with a three-game series at home against Sacred Heart, will be the true test. 

Competitive Edge

After last year’s loss in the ASUN tournament, Mercadante said the team’s returners will have a “chip on their shoulder.”

“I think everybody has a little sour taste in their mouth with how it finished,” Mercadante said. 

During practices, Mercadante said this has been one of the most competitive fall seasons he’s had as head coach. He said the increased competition from the newcomers is pushing the returners to keep improving every day.

“[The increased competition] is a good thing,” Mercadante said. “That’s what you want in your program is competition and these guys pushing each other daily.”

On the field, Mercadante said his team is filled with players who “hate losing more than they like winning.”

“That’s what we kind of have to have here,” Mercadante said. “We’ve got to be okay going in there, being the underdog, and pouring it all out and living it all out on the line to do whatever it takes to win.”

Simply put, Mercadante said this group has an edge and is excited to see it translate this season. In a lengthy college baseball season, Mercandate said it’s important to have a team that doesn’t take games or even innings off. 

Newfound Energy

“They’re going to be tested as a group and we know adversity is going to hit at some point,” Mercadante said. “But I think this is a group that has taken some pride in having resilience.”

Even for practices, Mercadante said his team hasn’t had many “low energy, low effort days.”

Calling himself a “stoic individual,” Mercadante said he wants losing to bother the team but also not to “beat yourself up” about every loss.

“I want them to always kind of see that even keel behavior with me,” Mercadante said. “Because I think this game is a game that’s going to beat you up a lot.”

“This is a sport where it’s tough to kind of ring the bell at practice every day and come with enthusiasm,” Mercadante said. “I’ve really appreciated the way this group just kind of shows up and roots for each other, challenges each other and tries to attack it.”

Key Pitchers and New Coach

This Friday, Mercadante said Joseph Dimino will open. UCF transfers Dakota Stone and Tyler Kozera will also pitch this weekend. 

Rounding out the big arms, Mercadante said Charlotte transfer Ed Wagner will “probably be the Sunday starter.”

“Right there, you’ve got four or five guys that are newcomers who have really come in and showed us what we needed to see,” Mercadante said, referring to those pitchers. “They’re really talented guys. They want to compete, they want to get better.”

Returning from last season, Mercadante touted Clay Hendry, who will be on the mound Friday, Jacksonville native John Costa, and relief pitcher Zane Starling. Mercadante said both Starling and Costa look much improved.

Pitching Changes

While acknowledging his pitching staff last year “struck out a lot of guys,” Mercante wants his pitching staff to limit walks, fill the strike zone, and release quicker to home plate.

“This group has done a better job of being quicker to the plate and not letting teams run at will on us,” Mercadante said. “And also challenging guys in the strike zone.”

Mercadante cited an old adage: teams can’t defend walks or other freebies, such as hit-by-pitches.

“So, really making teams earn their way on and one of the things we preached is attacking the zone,” he said. “We talked about lead-off walks and two-out walks as killers.”

Besides himself, Mercadante credited new pitching coach Bangs’ ability to get this point across.

“Solo home runs don’t beat you,” Mercadante said. “The three-run innings are the ones that get you.”

Catcher Santiago Ordonez, who works with many of the pitchers, said Bangs has been helpful in practices.

“I couldn’t be more excited for our pitchers,” Ordonez said. “Because they get after it as well. It’s shown in the fall, it’s shown in the spring.”

As a two-time transfer himself, Ordonez said everyone clicked with each other in the offseason.

“Even the newcomers, they’re bought into what [Mercadante] and what [Wilkerson] are saying.”

Impact Hitters and Fielders

The offense has many newcomers, Mercadante said. Junior-college transfer Jackson Toberman will be at first base, followed by returner Seth Alford at second, then returner Mitchell Collins at shortstop.

Junior college transfer Matt Farmer will play third base, and Ordonez will round out the infield at catcher. Junior college transfers Gaildri Gomez and Jackson Schrafft will play in the outfield.

Mercadante said his team’s depth is a strength that will be tested during five-game weeks. 

In the infield, Mercadante said multiple freshmen, such as Jonathan Acosta and Drew Buchanan, will be given opportunities to showcase their skills.

“I’m going to plan and find out what we got with these guys,” Mercadante said. “I’m going to put them out there and give them a shot.”

New Turf

UNF Baseball spent their offseason practicing in batting cages or at other schools’ parks and just last week, UNF players began practicing on its new ‘AstroTurf.’ Head coach Mercadante said it feels like a new stadium after phase one of the facelift.

“UNF baseball deserves it and I’m excited these guys get to play on the new playing surface this year,” Mercadante said. 

Most of all, both Ordonez and Mercadante are excited to see what they’ve practiced translating in the new field. UNF Baseball, playing on its new turf for the first time, will host Sacred Heart for a three-game series Feb. 13-15 at Harmon Stadium

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