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Past Meets Future: Rojas Pitches on Night Jesus Luzardo’s Jersey Is Retired

by Matt Rothman February 8, 2026

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Past Meets Future: Rojas Pitches on Night Jesus Luzardo’s Jersey Is Retired

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Baseball Team. {MSD Baseball}

It was a fitting scene on a night celebrating one of Marjory Stoneman Douglas’ all-time greats.

As former Eagles standout and 2016 graduate Jesús Luzardo had his jersey retired, the next generation of dominant left-handed pitching took the mound for Douglas, with Gio Rojas getting the start for the Eagles.

Luzardo, who won 23 games during his career at MSD, was selected in the third round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals. He has since pitched in seven major league seasons with the Oakland Athletics, Miami Marlins, and Philadelphia Phillies, cementing his place as one of the program’s most accomplished alumni.

Rojas, a senior recently named a preseason All-American, is coming off a historic 2025 campaign. He finished the season 12–0 with a 0.72 ERA, striking out 128 batters in 68 innings while allowing just 35 hits. He also appeared in five games during the 2024 season, going 4–0 with a 0.66 ERA.

“Very fitting evening in that ten years after Jesus Luzardo graduated from Douglas, was drafted, and his number is being retired, the next generation of Douglas star left-handed pitchers, Gio Rojas, a potential high MLB Draft pick, gets the start,” head coach Todd Fitz-Gerald said.

Rojas tossed two scoreless innings in a 3–2 win over West Boca Community High School, striking out five batters. He was followed by Jacob Hayes, Reid Dadic, and Ben Bianchi, who combined to add eight more strikeouts to preserve the victory.

MSD opened the season with an exhibition game against West Broward High School, which ended in a 5–5 tie. The Eagles rallied with four runs in the final inning to even the score. Ander Elorriaga drove in two runs off the bench, while Jackson Taylor and Abraham Halaoui each added an RBI. Joshua Jakubowicz, Carter McGuinn, and Bianchi all pitched scoreless innings.

The Eagles will begin their quest for a sixth straight state championship on Monday, February 9, when they travel to face Monsignor Pace at 6:30 p.m. They will then play their home opener the following day against Killian High School.

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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. He also works for the Mohave Valley Daily News in Bullhead City, Arizona covering high school sports.