Pedro Grifol, a Miami native and Florida State University alumnus, has been hired as the new head baseball coach at Florida International University, bringing decades of professional baseball experience back to the college game.
Grifol’s journey from the minor leagues to the World Series stage with the Kansas City Royals in 2015 has equipped him with a deep understanding of player development, a perspective he now intends to apply to the unique challenges of modern college athletics.
His most recent role as manager of the Chicago White Sox followed a long career that included stints as a coach and scout, giving him a rare blend of MLB insight and strategic acumen that he plans to translate into a competitive program at FIU.
Connecting Past and Present
Grifol joins a growing list of former Seminoles players who have taken the helm of college baseball programs, a trend that traces its roots to the legendary coach Mike Martin under whom Grifol once played and served as an assistant.
Several other alumni of Florida State’s baseball legacy — such as Link Jarrett, Rod Delmonico, Brian Jeroloman, Willie Simmons and Chip Baker — are now leading teams across the nation, underscoring the lasting impact of the university’s baseball tradition.
The coach’s philosophy remains anchored in the lessons he learned at FSU, emphasizing that college baseball is not merely a stepping stone but an essential part of a young player’s journey toward professional competition and life beyond the diamond.
Inducted into the FSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2023, Grifol says his passion for the sport has never faded, and he believes that the college experience uniquely prepares athletes for the rigors of professional baseball while also shaping character off the field.