Of all the programs in D2 Baseball, there are very few – if any – that can match the current volume of former players currently in the Major or Minor Leagues from Nova Southeastern.
Based in Fort Lauderdale and playing in the Sunshine State Conference, the Sharks of NSU have built a reputation for developing future pro players and reigning as contenders in the toughest region and conference in the game.
With 16 players active as of the 2017 season and four of them in the bigs, there is no doubting the pipeline Nova SE is becoming in college baseball.
But when focusing on those who are currently playing in The Majors, just who makes up this quartet of former D2 players? Look below to find out, and make sure you keep an eye on Nova Southeastern for the next crop of players to make the jump to the Majors or be selected in the MLB Draft in the coming years.
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Carlos Asuaje, 2B — San Diego Padres
Nova Southeastern (2011-2013)
| Level | AVG | HR | RBI | SB | XBH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College | .356 | 10 | 104 | 67 | 69 |
| Major Leagues | .266 | 4 | 26 | 0 | 23 |
A 2013 draft pick by the Boston Red Sox Asuaje advanced through the Minors fairly quickly, making his debut in 2016 as a member of the San Diego Padres following a trade that sent the infielder there in exchange for Craig Kimbrel.
He got extended time in 2017 with 89 games played, and is starting his first full season with San Diego this year. By looking at his collegiate stats and what he has done through the minors, the Padres should expect a contact hitter with occasional power, and someone that can steal some bases when given the chance.
With the rebuild fully on in southern California, it will be interesting to see if Asuaje – a former top 20 prospect for the organization – is part of the future plans, or spends his future years with another club looking for a middle infield option.
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Mike Fiers, SP — Detroit Tigers
Nova Southeastern (2009)
| Level | W-L | ERA | K | IP | CG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College | 10-3 | 2.65 | 145 | 108.2 | 3 |
| Major Leagues | 42-47 | 4.15 | 688 | 726.0 | 1 |
Spending just one season with the Sharks in 2009, Fiers quickly accelerated to the Majors with his debut in 2011, and becoming a member of the Brewers' rotation in 2012.
Eventually the 2009 22nd rounder made his way to Houston in 2015 and became part of baseball history when he tossed the 11th no-hitter in Houston history, the first in Minute Maid Park in just his third start with the club.
Winning the World Series in 2017 with the 'Stros, Fiers worked his way to Detroit to be part of their pitching staff for 2018. While he has battled injuries so far and has had to push back his debut, we should see a few more seasons out of the former Nova right hander.
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J.D. Martinez, OF — Boston Red Sox
Nova Southeastern (2007-2009)
| Level | AVG | HR | RBI | SB | XBH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College | .356 | 10 | 104 | 67 | 69 |
| Major Leagues | .266 | 4 | 26 | 0 | 23 |
One of the best bats to bloom over the last few seasons, Martinez has become one of the premier power hitters in the game and signed for the big bucks with the Red Sox this past offseason.
Bashing 32 career homers in college, he has already sent 153 over the fence in his eight-year career in the bigs with a career-high 45 in 2017 between the Tigers and D-Backs.
Drafted by the Astros in the 20th round in 2009, he made his debut in 2011 and broke out in his first season in the Motor City, with – at the time – a career year with 23 homers and hitting .315.
Signing on for five years with Boston, we should see plenty more of this former Shark bashing the ball, this time against The Green Monster.
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Miles Mikolas, P — St. Louis Cardinals
Nova Southeastern (2007-2009)
| Level | W-L | ERA | K | IP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College | 15-8 | 3.69 | 167 | 200.2 |
| Major Leagues | 5-6 | 5.38 | 67 | 97.0 |
Another player to come out after the 2009 season and be selected in the MLB Draft, Mikolas was actually the highest of the totem pole, being picked in the seventh round by the Padres.
Making his debut in 2012 as a reliever, "The Lizard King" had a solid 25 game start with a 2-1 record and 3.62 ERA. But following that season, he struggled to stick in the bigs and wound up in Japan for a few years.
Now back in the States on a two-year deal with St. Louis, he is a starter for the Redbirds and won his first decision last week.
While success has not been plentiful to this point, it would sure be something if the fastball-slider combo pitcher could make it three former NSU alum from the class of '09 to be pretty successful in the pros.
