| Tampa Spartans baseball |
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| Founded | 1977 (1977) |
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| Overall record | 2,095–932–9 (.692)[1] |
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| University | University of Tampa |
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| Head coach | Joe Urso (24th season) |
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| Conference | Sunshine State |
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| Location | Tampa, Florida |
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| Home stadium | University of Tampa Baseball Field
(Capacity: 750 [2]) |
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| Colors | Black, red, and gold[3]
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| 1992, 1993, 1998, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2024, 2025 |
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| 1987, 2003 |
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| 1986, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2024, 2025 |
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| 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 |
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| 1987, 1989, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
[4] |
The Tampa Spartans baseball program represents the University of Tampa in the NCAA's Division II Level in the Sunshine State Conference. The Spartans are one of the most successful baseball programs in the history of Division II with ten national titles. Their most recent came in 2025. The Spartans are coached by Joe Urso, considered to be the greatest Division II baseball head coaches and one of the best college baseball coaches of all-time.[5]
Tampa has reached the College World Series 22 times, reaching the finals 11 times. The Spartans have won 23 Sunshine State Conference titles, including 18 since 2000, and have produced 101 Major League Baseball draft picks. [6] Nine of those players have gone on to play in the big leagues, including Tino Martinez, Ozzie Timmons and Lou Pinella.
The program has highly-publicized wins against Philadelphia Phillies in an exhibition game back in 2015[7] and the Netherlands national baseball team ahead of the 2006 World Baseball Classic.[8]
The Spartans have spent 399 weeks ranked in the top 25, including 298 consecutive weeks from 2005–present. Of those 399 weeks, 119 have been spent as the No. 1 team in all of Division II and 353 weeks have been spent inside the top 10. [9]
Yearly records
[10]
Notable alumni
Current MLB roster
Former Spartans on current MLB rosters.
Individual honors
Division II Player of the Year
| Player
|
Position
|
Year
|
| Tino Martinez
|
1B
|
1988
|
| Sam Militello
|
P
|
1990
|
| Mike Valdes
|
P
|
1998
|
| Lee Cruz
|
OF
|
2006
|
National Coach of the Year
| Player
|
Year
|
| Lelo Prado
|
1992
|
| Lelo Prado
|
1993
|
| Terry Rupp
|
1998
|
| Joe Urso
|
2006
|
| Joe Urso
|
2007
|
| Joe Urso
|
2013
|
| Joe Urso
|
2015
|
| Joe Urso
|
2019
|
| Joe Urso
|
2024
|
SSC Player of the Year
| Player
|
Position
|
Year
|
| Brian Zaletel
|
3B
|
1992
|
| Rodd Kelley
|
SS
|
1993
|
| Ronnie Merrill
|
SS
|
2000
|
| Tom Carrow
|
OF
|
2001
|
| Lee Cruz
|
OF
|
2006
|
| Mike Schwartz
|
DH
|
2010
|
| Yorvis Torrealba
|
OF
|
2019
|
| EJ Cumbo
|
OF
|
2023
|
| EJ Cumbo
|
OF
|
2024
|
SSC Pitcher of the Year
| Player
|
Year
|
| Ricky Burton
|
1996
|
| Mike Valdes
|
1998
|
| Charlie Manning
|
2001
|
| Eric Beattie
|
2003
|
| Sergio Perez
|
2006
|
| Kevin Ferguson
|
2007
|
| Sean Bierman
|
2012
|
| Mike Adams
|
2013
|
| Preston Packrall
|
2014
|
| David Lebron
|
2017
|
| David Lebron
|
2018
|
| Jordan Leasure
|
2021
|
| Alex Canney
|
2023
|
| Skylar Gonzalez
|
2024
|
SSC Coach of the Year
| Player
|
Year
|
| Joe Urso |
2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2024
|
| Terry Rupp |
1997, 1998, 2000
|
| Lelo Prado |
1989, 1993
|
| Ken Dominguez |
1987
|
References
External links
University of Tampa |
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- Located in: Tampa, Florida
- Established: 1931
|
| Buildings |
- Henry B. Plant Museum
- Macdonald–Kelce Library
- Old School House (Tampa, Florida)
- Macdonald–Kelce Library
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| Athletics | |
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| Media | |
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 Category
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