BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI - After a record-breaking first season in college baseball, FIU catcher Jose Garcia was named the 2018 Conference USA Freshman of the Year on Tuesday afternoon in a vote by the league's coaches and sports information directors.
Garcia broke the FIU freshman home run record with 13 long balls in his debut season. Garcia surpassed former FIU slugger Jabari Henry, who hit 12 home runs in 2010. Henry also went on to win the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year award that season.
Garcia is hitting .271 with 13 home runs and 38 RBI on the season as FIU prepares to open the Conference USA Championship against Florida Atlantic on Wednesday morning (10 a.