Photo courtesy of Genesis Muckle.
The University of Tampa baseball team is back and chasing history. As the Spartans prepared to face the season head-on. With new talent, returning leadership, and a 10th championship title, the expectations are higher than ever, and the team is ready to go after what no other Division II team has: a three-peat.
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By Genesis Muckle
TAMPA, Fla. – The spring athletic season is officially underway at the University of Tampa, and the Spartans are entering the season more motivated than ever.
Coming off their 10th NCAA Division II championship, Tampa’s baseball team has cemented itself as the number one DII baseball program in the nation. This season, head coach Joe Urso and his team are chasing a new goal that will take the Spartans to another level: a three-peat.
“We’re bringing in 20-plus new guys, so it’s about building that family all over again, and trying to achieve something that no one has ever done before in Division II baseball, which is a three-peat,” said Urso.
For Urso, the milestone of winning a 10th championship and the legacy it represents hold great personal significance. Before becoming the head coach, Urso was a part of UTampa’s first national championship team in 1992. Since then, he has helped transform UTampa into a baseball powerhouse.
“It was always a big goal of mine,” said Urso. “Being the top Division II program in the country.”
Winning the program’s 10th championship solidified UTampa’s place at the top of Division II baseball history, but Urso said that this success does not bring complacency.
“We made history last year, and the expectations don’t stop now,” he said. “The new goal is to become the first to three-peat and hopefully chase history once again.”
Despite the pressure that comes with sustained excellence, Urso said the most exciting part of each season is starting fresh.
“We lost a lot of great personalities, a lot of great players, and now we have to develop it all over again, and that’s the fun of this job,” said Urso.
However, with a roster full of new faces, the Spartans face a new challenge:
“We lost our whole starting rotation last year on the mound. Our number one, two, and three starters,” said Urso.
One of the greatest challenges the Spartans are facing this season is replacing their pitching staff. UTampa lost its entire starting rotation.
“That rotation was really the backbone of our team,” said Urso.
This season, Robert Satin will step into the ace role, and with him, John Luke Glanton and B.J. Bailey will round out the top three arms.
“I’m excited to see them develop and take over this rotation,” Urso said.
While the Spartans have seen many new faces, Tampa has several returning players ready to take on major roles for the team. One of these key players is Brayden Woodburn, who was one of the team’s top hitters last year and has been a crucial player in UTampa’s back-to-back national championships.
“Brayden has been a part of both titles and played a big role in both,” said Urso.
Joining Woodburn as a veteran leader is Maddox King, a third-year centerfielder, as well as the team‘s catcher, Jhoander Irigoyen, in his second season. Both are expected to help guide the new roster and reinforce the program’s culture.
“These guys relied on a lot for their leadership,” said Urso. “Hopefully, the new guys can fall in line and start to understand the culture of Tampa baseball.”
UTampa also brings in a strong group of newcomers, including junior college athletes and Division I transfers.
One name that stands out is Jack Martinez, who is expected to start at third base and shortstop. Martinez carries a familiar name within the program as he is the nephew of UTampa legend Tino Martinez.
“The Martinez family has meant so much to this program,” Urso said. “To have Tino Martinez’s nephew here and continue the family tradition is really special.”
With a strong roster and high expectations, balancing that competition and chemistry is a major challenge for this fabulous student this season.
“Competition is very healthy,” Urso said. “Once the lineup is written on Friday night, it’s about how the backup guys respond and accept their roles.”
Urso said that building a championship team requires more than just the nine starters; it requires every player.
“It’s my job to develop roles for other guys, not just the starters, so that chemistry continues to be positive,” he said.
When off the field, the coaching staff has priorities: teaching and reinforcing UTampa’s culture, especially for players new to the program.
Photo courtesy of Genesis Muckle.
“A lot of guys have never been in a program this successful,” Urso said. “So from a coaching standpoint, it’s slowing down a little bit and doing a little bit more teaching.”
Team-building activities such as Topgolf, clay shooting, and lake days have helped foster a sense of unity and family within the team.
Uro’s expectations for this year remain clear.
“The goal is always to win a championship,” he said.
The Spartans will open up the season on the road in Georgia, facing early challenges in cold conditions before returning for a three-week homestand. Fans can also look forward to the unveiling of the 25th championship ball and brand new scoreboard, donated by Fred Pollock and Jeanette Pollock.
With great ambition, experienced leadership, and exciting talent, the UTampa basketball team gives students plenty to look forward to in the Spring 2025-2026 season.