University of Tennessee Athletics
DIAMOND VOLS SPOTLIGHT: YAN GOMES
November 15, 2006 | Baseball
Nov. 15, 2006
By Melissa Anderson, UT Sports Information
Alex Suarez. Sean Watson. Michael Rivera. J.P. Arencibia. What do all of these players have in common? Aside from all being members of Tennessee's 2005 College World Series team, they also have one other thing in common. They are all from Miami.
In recent years, the Tennessee lineup has featured many talented players who hail from the Sunshine State. The impact these players has made makes it hard to ignore Florida's sunny south, and UT head coach Rod Delmonico is hoping to showcase some of that talent this season at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Five of the 13 newcomers to this year's team are from Miami, and one who the coaches hope to see make an immediate impact is freshman catcher/infielder Yan Gomes.
Born in San Paulo, Brazil, Gomes (rhymes with "homes") moved to Miami at the age of 11 and lived there until given the opportunity to come play baseball in Knoxville for Delmonico this fall. A 6-foot-2 prospect from Miami's Southridge High School, Gomes looks to be an integral part of the Tennessee lineup this year as well as for seasons to come.
Coming out of high school, Gomes was ranked as the 143rd-best high school prospect in the nation. This All-Dade County player helped the Southridge Spartans finish 2005 as regular season 16-6A district champions after starting out the year with 19 straight wins.
From the hustle and bustle of the metropolitan Miami area to the calmer, serene mountain city of Knoxville, Gomes is still learning to make the adjustment.
"It is a big, big difference," Gomes said. "Miami is all chaos, and everyone is all on top of each other. Here ... people are too friendly up here."
Going into 2007, the Diamond Vols look to put a 31-24 season behind them and Gomes figures to be in the middle of the action. Despite being listed as a catcher/infielder, he is among a small group of preseason favorites to earn a starting position in the outfield.
"He is very versatile," junior All America catcher J.P. Arencibia said. "He can play pretty much any position on the field except for pitcher. And you know, he could probably do that, too."
Another important role that Gomes may hold this year is the ever-important cleanup spot in the lineup. That spot is critical for the offensive success of National Player of the Year candidate Arencibia. In order for Arencibia to get pitches to hit, Gomes must provide a solid presence in the batting order.
"[Yan] is supposed to hit somewhere in the middle of the lineup, and that's good for me as a hitter as far as making pitchers throw me stuff. That's a big part, and Yan is a real good player."
The Tennessee coaches are not only looking for the impact that Gomes can make in the lineup and on the field this year but also the impact he can make behind the plate in the future. With Arencibia's draft status rising with each home run he hits, Gomes looks to become the Volunteer's starting catcher perhaps as early as the 2008 season.
"The coaches tell me I'm going to back [J.P.] up this year and then maybe step in next year, so I'm happy about that. I'm learning a lot from J.P."
And Arencibia is confident that Gomes can fill his shoes and take over when he moves on.
"No doubt, no doubt," Arencibia said. "He's a great catcher, and right now I'm just trying to take him under my wing and teach him as much as possible. But whenever my time is up here, he is definitely going to be a very good catcher."
As Gomes looks forward to starting his career on Rocky Top, he understands the advantage learning from a player of Arencibia's caliber.
"It's a big privilege catching behind that guy," Gomes said. "I will learn a lot, and maybe I will be as good as he is someday."
