TAMPA, Fla. — The University of Tampa baseball program is a nationally known powerhouse with eight national championships in NCAA Division II. The Spartans have shown no signs of falling off after a program-record 17-0 start this season, earning the top spot in the national rankings.
A fearless attitude is the key to U Tampa’s consistent success on the diamond.
“They know that Tampa name on their chest alone is something that equals confidence. Opposing teams come in here [and] they know that they're going to be playing one of the top teams in the country,” said head coach Joe Urso.
Perhaps nobody on the roster is more fearless than senior outfielder Mike Valdez. He currently leads the team with a .667 slugging percentage and is tied for second with three home runs.
The Miami native joined the Spartans in 2023 after bouncing around the country playing for Miami, Hillsborough Community College and Ohlone College in California. Unfortunately, his first season with UT ended before it truly got started.
During a preseason practice, Valdez suffered a severe lower leg fracture, sliding into second base.
“I was wearing metal cleats that day and the cleat got caught, so it got stuck under me and [my leg] broke,” he said.
The injury set Valdez on a long road to recovery. He went to his home in Miami for a month, before coming back to Tampa to start rehab. At first, there were worries about coming back and playing at a high level.
“They removed my cast, and I saw a calf with no muscle…just all bone. And then an ankle, like, twice its size,” he said. “I had to trust the process and hope that, you know, eventually it's gonna go back to normal.”
Determined to make a comeback, Valdez spent multiple hours with physical trainers nearly every day. He also spent an hour on either a stair climber or treadmill to get back in shape. The hard work paid off. Doctors cleared him for baseball action four months after breaking his leg. Valdez was able to play in two games as the designated hitter towards the end of the 2023 season, homering in the May 12 contest against Newberry.
This season, Valdez has played in every Spartans game.
“You have to understand that nothing in this game can stop you other than yourself,” he said. “You can think about it and you're always going to remember that trauma. But I always try to think positive and play with no fear.”
Valdez’s fearlessness has permeated through the team and it could lead to U Tampa’s ninth national championship.
