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MSD Baseball Pipeline Continues as Roman Anthony Joins Team USA, Alumni Thrive in College

Roman Anthony {Jake Stephens}

A former state champion from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas baseball program is set to compete on the international stage, while several recent graduates have already begun making their mark at the collegiate level.

Roman Anthony is set to represent Team USA at the World Baseball Classic. Anthony, a 2022 graduate and one of baseball’s top young stars, has officially been selected after previously competing in the USA National High School Invitational.

Anthony quickly rose through the minor leagues, becoming baseball’s top overall prospect before making his Major League debut in July. In 71 games at the big-league level, he hit eight home runs and drove in 32 RBIs. During his time at MSD, Anthony totaled 15 home runs, 20 doubles, and 61 RBIs across two seasons, and was named the Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior. After being selected in the second round of the MLB Draft, he went on to hit 42 career minor league home runs while recording 170 RBIs before reaching the majors. The World Baseball Classic is scheduled to run from March 5–17.

Meanwhile, Anthony’s former teammate Rylan Lujo, a 2024 graduate, has made an immediate impact at the collegiate level.a. After not recording an at-bat in his debut with the University of Georgia, Lujo responded by hitting his first collegiate home run against Wright State University. He later added two hits, including another home run, against Samford in the opening game of a weekend series.

Christian Rodriguez made his first appearance of the season with the University of Florida, striking out one in a scoreless inning against Kennesaw State. Jacob Gomberg picked up a save for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, after transferring from Florida, while Matt Ossenfort recorded RBIs for the University of Michigan against Stanford and Oregon State.

Nick Diaz recorded a hit for the College of Charleston in his college debut against Rutgers and followed with two more hits in the next game, including his first RBI. Diaz later added a double in the series finale. Bennett Gary made his collegiate debut with the University of Miami, reaching base with a walk and scoring a run against Lehigh University before his first home run on Sunday against Lafayette.

On the mound, David Goldapper recorded his first win at LSU Eunice, and Breylynn Courtney earned his first collegiate victory with Eastern Florida State College. He also recorded a save and has struck out 13 batters in 11 innings this season. Sammy Beir has two saves, and Danny Tartaglia struck out two batters in his first appearance with Hillsborough Community College. After starting at the University of South Florida ,Niko Benestad recorded his first collegiate home run with Indian River State College. Alex Rodriguez is hitting .349 and has an on-base percentage of .495, along with six stolen bases, at Pasco-Hernando State College through 17 games. His teammate, Gavin Gargiulo, is 3-0 in four starts this season. Chase Wildroudt had his first collegiate strikeout, while Ethan Askin had an RBI and four runs scored with Eastern Florida State College after homering twice last year.

Alex Lazar is playing with Coker University and has 23 RBIs this season while batting nearly .300. Cayden Freels homered in his first two games this year and has three this season with Christian Brothers University, while Jacob Herzberg has three stolen bases with William Pace University. Erick Torres is hitting. 367 with 13 RBIs, nine stolen bases at Palm Beach State College.

Jesus Luzardo (Philadelphia Phillies), Coby Mayo (Baltimore Orioles), Hunter Fitz-Gerald (Seattle Mariners), Devin Fitz-Gerald (Washington Nationals), and Jayden Dubanewicz (Milwaukee Brewers) are all beginning spring training at the professional level, while several other graduates have yet to appear in any collegiate games this year.

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Matt Rothman

Matt Rothman is a 2018 graduate from Florida Gulf Coast University receiving his bachelor’s degree in journalism and then graduated from the University of Florida as a graduate student.