Nick Belmonte played, managed, broadcast Florida games

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Nick Belmonte 1991 Salt Lake City Trappers card

Passed over in the 1978 draft out of the University of Florida, Nick Belmonte tried to make his mark with independent teams of the Northwest League, The Salem Statesman Journal wrote.

He played well enough for brief looks with the Brewers and Expos, but then found himself back with the independent Salem Senators for 1979, The Statesman Journal wrote.

"I don't want to say anything against the Senators - they've been great to me," Belmonte told The Statesman Journal. "It's just that this isn't what I planned for myself."

Belmonte the player ultimately didn't work out. But his time in baseball ultimately did. He took his broadcast degree he earned at Florida to local TV sports - and eventually right back to Florida. He became the Gators' longtime baseball broadcaster, a job he's held for over three decades.

Belmonte's career in baseball began in 1978, signed by independent Boise as a free agent out of Florida.

He played that first year with short-season Boise. He saw 72 games and hit .331, with three home runs. He also stole 52 bases.

That season was enough for the Brewers to take a look at him, briefly, in spring training. He then signed with the Expos and saw five games at single-A West Palm Beach. He then saw 31 games at independent Salem and 11 at independent Victoria.

Belmonte finished out his playing career at Victoria in 1980, with 31 games. He hit .302.

Belmonte soon found himself working in TV with local Miami station WLRN, covering high school baseball and other sports. He then used that experience to start broadcasting Florida games with the Sunshine Network, according to a University of Florida alumni profile.

Around that same time, the Salt Lake City Trappers called and asked if he could manage the club. He accepted and managed the Trappers over three seasons, 1990 to 1992.

He then became the independent Northern League's director of player personnel, helping teams get players, The Winnipeg Sun wrote. 

"I developed a love for (independent baseball)," Belmonte told The Sun. "I've known it as a player, a manager and a player personnel director, I've known it from every stage."

Belmonte has also served as a scout for the Cubs.

Along the way, he broadcast Florida baseball. In 2021, as he celebrated his 34th season covering Florida games, he spoke to FloridaGators.com.

"Eighty-five to 90 percent of my working life has been in baseball,'' Belmonte told the site. "I just feel blessed to still be working with the University of Florida baseball program."

Belmonte continues as a Florida baseball broadcaster in 2025.

Nick Belmonte 1991 Salt Lake City Trappers card


1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:4,491
Made the Majors:1,426-31.8%
Never Made Majors:3,065-68.2%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:577
10+ Seasons in the Minors:357

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