Gaither’s Mercado signs with FSU

Posted Nov 16, 2012 by Jarrett Guthrie

Updated Nov 16, 2012 at 05:41 PM

Gaither shortstop Oscar Mercado committed to Florida State University this afternoon at the school according to Cowboys coach Frank Permuy.

Mercado is the second Gaither baseball player to commit to FSU as former Cowboy Kevin Cash played for the Seminoles before spending eight seasons in Major League Baseball, most notably winning a World Series title with the Boston Red Sox in 2007.

Mercado stepped into the role of Gaither’s shortstop 10 games into his freshman season Permuy said and although the coach told him he was “going to bat ninth and play defense,” he quickly excelled.

“Oscar was the next guy in line for us,” Permuy said. “He stepped in his freshman year and took off from that point on and now he’s a well-respected leader on our team and a guy everybody looks up to.”

Mercado, a Tampa Tribune All-Hillsborough County first teamer last season, had a .382 batting average, scored 28 runs, 28 RBI and 12 stolen bases.