Daniel Cantu

Photo by: RJ Colo/South Florida Athletics

Photo by: Mary Holt / University of South Florida Athletics

Photo by: American Athletic Conference

Photo by: Mary Holt / University of South Florida Athletics

Photo by: FAU_MH

Cantu 2021 gold unis teammates at dugout

Photo by: Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports

Photo by: JAA

Photo by: Mary Holt / University of South Florida Athletics

Photo by: Mary Holt / University of South Florida Athletics

Photo by: FGCU_MH

Photo by: NWU_TP

Position:
OF/1B
Height:
6-3
Weight:
214
Class:
Redshirt Junior
Hometown:
Jacksonville, Fla.
High School:
Creekside HS
Major:
Health Science

2023 CSC Academic All-District Team
AAC Player of the Week (4/3/23)
Named the 2021 American Athletic Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player

2023: Made 49 consecutive starts to begin the year before suffering a season-ending injury…had a career year at the plate, batting .303 with 14 doubles, one triple, 11 homers, 40 runs scored and 41 RBI…slugged .557…recorded 18 walks and 13 HBP for a .399 OBP…went 3-for-6 in stolen base attempts…ranked third on the team with 17 multi-hit games and shared the lead with 11 multi-RBI efforts…posted an 11-game hitting streak and a 19-game streak of reaching base safely…recorded a season-high four hits twice, once against VCU (3/25) when he had a pair of doubles and a season-high five RBI…also logged a pair of doubles and five RBI at Bethune-Cookman (3/28)…compiled nine hits with five doubles and 12 RBI over three games from 3/25-28…homered in back-to-back games at FAU (2/25-26)…made 28 starts in right field and 21 at first base.

2022: Played in 56 games and made 50 starts…ranked second on the team in doubles (11) and walks (31)…batted .263 with six homers and 30 RBI…slugged .437 and had a .416 OBP (.853 OPS)…second on the team with 14-multi hit games…recorded seven multi-RBI games…season-high three hits vs. Stetson (5/17)…drove in four runs in three different games…drew five walks at FIU (3/15)…reached base safely in 19 straight games and compiled a five-game hitting streak…had a pair of games with two doubles…homered on opening day vs. UConn (2/18)…homered in back-to-back games vs. Niagara (3/27) & Bethune-Cookman (3/29)…went 5-for-7 in stolen base attempts…recorded three outfield assists.

2021: Played in all 61 games (57 starts)...batted .255 with 10 doubles, two triples, eight homers and 36 RBI...tied for second on the team lead with 41 runs scored...tied for fourth in HR and RBI...ranked third with a .379 OBP...drew 28 walks...first collegiate homer was a walk-off blast in the 11th inning against FAU (3/21)...recorded 14 multi-hit games with a trio of three-hit efforts...tied for second on the team with 10 multi-RBI games...drove in three runs on five occasions...longest reached base streak (11) and hitting streak (5)...batted .316 with four extra-base hits, five runs and five RBI in the AAC Championship and was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player...went 3-for-4 with a double, homer and three RBI vs. UCF in the championship final to help USF win the title...hit a solo homer in the top of the ninth inning of Game 1 of the Austin Super Regional...tallied two outfield assists.

2020: Appeared 12 games while making seven starts…had his first career hit against Northeastern (2/22/20)…had his first career extra base hit and RBI against Northeastern (2/23/20)…finished batting .182 with six total bases, four walks, three runs, two doubles, and an RBI.

HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Creekside HS … Played varsity all four years with Coach Kris King … Senior year named Region 4 7A Player of the year … Junior year earned St. Johns County Player of the Year and had .430 batting average with 38 RBIs … Graduated with 3.5 GPA.

RECRUITING: (Perfect Game Ranking: State-10th 3B, National-T500) (Prep Baseball Report Rank: State-60th, National-403rd)

PERSONAL: Born Daniel Ryan Cantu on September 7, 2000 in Jacksonville, Fla. … Son of Darin and Elizabeth Cantu … Dad played baseball at Eckerd College for two years … Wears No. 33 because his dad wore the same number ... Sister, Sarah Cantu was a Florida State cheerleader for four years ... majoring in health science ... Favorite MLB team is the Chicago Cubs, and favorite player is Javy Baez ... Models his game after Freddy Freeman ...Favorite non-baseball athlete is Micahel Jordan ... Enjoys golfing.