A former state champion from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas baseball program is preparing to showcase his talent on the international stage as Roman Anthony has been selected to represent Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Anthony, a standout graduate from the class of 2022, has garnered recognition as one of baseball’s top young prospects. His selection follows an impressive performance at the USA National High School Invitational.
Anthony, who made his Major League debut in July after a rapid ascent through the minor leagues, concluded his big-league season with eight home runs and 32 RBIs across 71 games. During his high school career at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, he recorded 15 home runs, 20 doubles, and 61 RBIs, earning the prestigious Gatorade Player of the Year award in his senior year. Selected in the second round of the MLB Draft, he went on to hit 42 home runs and accumulate 170 RBIs in the minor leagues. The World Baseball Classic is scheduled to take place from March 5–17.
In addition to Anthony, other recent graduates from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas baseball program are making strides at the collegiate level. Rylan Lujo, a 2024 graduate, quickly made an impact for the University of Georgia, hitting his first collegiate home run against Wright State University after initially not recording an at-bat in his debut. He continued to impress by adding two hits, including another home run, in a weekend series opener against Samford.
Christian Rodriguez made a mark with the University of Florida by striking out one in a scoreless inning against Kennesaw State. At the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Jacob Gomberg secured a save after transferring from Florida. Matt Ossenfort contributed RBIs for the University of Michigan in games against Stanford and Oregon State.
Nick Diaz debuted with the College of Charleston, notching a hit in his first game against Rutgers and following it with two more hits, including his first RBI. He further showcased his abilities with a double in the series finale. Meanwhile, Bennett Gary made a solid start with the University of Miami, walking and scoring a run against Lehigh University before hitting his first collegiate home run against Lafayette.
On the pitching front, David Goldapper attained his first win at LSU Eunice, while Breylynn Courtney marked his collegiate victory with Eastern Florida State College, striking out 13 batters in 11 innings this season. Sammy Beir recorded two saves, and Danny Tartaglia demonstrated his skills with strikeouts in his first appearance for Hillsborough Community College. Niko Benestad made an impact by hitting his first collegiate home run with Indian River State College.
Other alumni are also achieving success in their respective colleges, with Alex Rodriguez batting .349 at Pasco-Hernando State College, while Gavin Gargiulo remains unbeaten in four starts. Cayden Freels has hit three home runs for Christian Brothers University, and Erick Torres is enjoying a productive season with a .367 average and nine stolen bases at Palm Beach State College.
As several players embark on spring training at the professional level, including Jesus Luzardo with the Philadelphia Phillies and Coby Mayo with the Baltimore Orioles, the legacy of Marjory Stoneman Douglas baseball continues through its talented alumni, showcasing their skills and potential on both national and international platforms.