Coby Mayo, Todd Fitz-Gerald, and Roman Anthony. {Jillian Jarboe and Sidney Berthiamue}
Marjory Stoneman Douglas continues to shine with former players and their coach recording milestones.
In his Camden Yards debut, Coby Mayo recorded his first MLB hit in the Baltimore Orioles in their win over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night.
“I guess a broken bat hit is what I needed,” Mayo said. “Really a cool moment, awesome feeling.”
A 2020 graduate, Mayo was called up on August 2 for his Major League debut and reached base twice with the walk. However, he went hitless in his first 17 at-bats before registering his first hit off left-hander DJ Herz. He also came around to score on an RBI single from Adley Rutschman.
Mayo was a fourth-round draft pick in 2020 who skyrocketed through the minor leagues. This season, he already had 23 home runs and 67 RBIs in Triple-A with the Norfolk Tides.
Mayo has already made quite the impression on another Orioles young superstar, Jackson Holliday.
“Everyone is so astonished by his power, but he’s a good hitter for average, too,” Holliday said. “Just a good hitter. He was hitting like .300 in AAA. It’s a big-time bat. He’s got a helluva arm, and I know how hard he works.”
Mayo’s High School coach, Todd Fitz-Gerald, was officially named a 2024 Hall of Fame Inductee for the High School Baseball Coaches Association.
“Just something I could never imagine,” Fitz-Gerald said. “I’m extremely humbled and excited to be chosen to go in. What we have done at Stoneman Douglas has far exceeded anything I ever thought was possible.”
Fitz-Gerald, the architect of the MSD dynasty, has won six state championships, five with MSD, including the last four, and four National Championships in his high school career.
Fitz-Gerald’s success also translates off the field, with dozens of players moving on to compete in college. His older son, Hunter Fitz-Gerald, is currently playing in the Minor Leagues with the Seattle Mariners, while his younger son, Devin Fitz-Gerald, was recently selected in the fourth round of the 2024 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers.
Coach Fitz-Gerald has been named Coach of the Year nine times, and ABCA, Baseball America, and USA Today have awarded him National High School Baseball Coach of the Year five times. Fitz-Gerald is also the Director of Baseball Operations for the Original Florida Pokers.
Former State Champion Roman Anthony moved closer to the big leagues after his promotion to Triple-A Worcester. A 2022 graduate, Anthony was picked in the second round of the MLB Draft in high school and hit .545 as a senior, with ten home runs and 45 RBIs. He quickly rose through the Minor Leagues and hit 15 home runs this year and 45 RBIs.
He also stole 16 bases and competed in a showcase at the All-Star Game, where hitters get points for reaching outfield targets on the fly or on a bounce, and they earn points by landing the ball on the bunt target. Entering the final round in last place, Anthony hit six home runs in eight swings to take first place.
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