Springs’ Torres, Westminster’s Stewart Co-Baseball Players, Springs’ Vargas Pitcher of Year
Westminster Christian’s Sal Stewart and Miami Springs’ Jason Torres, both senior third basemen signed to Power 5 schools with a good chance of being early selections in July’s MLB Draft, were two of Miami-Dade’s top hitters this season.
Maimi Springs’ Jordan Vargas, a junior, was also masterful on the mound to help the Golden Hawks make another playoff run.
The trio comprises the Miami Herald’s Miami-Dade Baseball Players and Pitcher of the Year for Classes 5A-2A, with Stewart and Torres earning Co-Player of the Year honors and Vargas winning the Pitcher of the Year Award outright.
Stewart, who is signed to play with Vanderbilt, finished his senior season hitting .514 with nine home runs, 13 doubles, 23 RBI and 46 runs scored. He drew 30 walks while striking out just nine times.
MLB Pipeline has Stewart ranked as the No. 78 overall prospect for the 2022 MLB Draft, noting that he “has the chance to hit with a solid approach at the plate and legitimate raw power he already knows how to tap into.”
“A lot of people play sports because they’re good at it or their parents want them to, but I genuinely just love to play the game,” Stewart said. “I like going out there and playing with the guys that I have and training. A lot of guys don’t like that. I love it. I thrive in it. It’s what makes me the player that I am.”
And now Stewart has the chance to be the next great baseball player to come out of Westminster Christian, which already has an alumni base headlined by Alex Rodriguez but also includes the likes of J.P. Arencibia and Doug Mientkiewicz.
“So many great players have come before me,” Stewart said. “I hope I can pave the way for the great players that come after me and set the standard for the players that come after me.”
Torres, a University of Miami signee, posted a .481 batting average while matching Stewart’s nine home runs and also chipping in five doubles, two triples, 29 RBI and 36 runs scored for Miami Springs this season.
One of the highlights for Torres this season: Miami Springs’ 4-2 regional semifinal win on the road against top-seeded Key West. Torres hit a towering home run in the first inning to help set the tone for the outing. Key West intentionally walked him on each of his final three plate appearances.
“You’ve got to work hard in this game,” Torres said. “It’s a game of failure. You have to be consistent every day. Work ethic is the hardest thing there is. Just got to get up and do it every day.
Torres’ grandfather, Hector, began teaching him the game when he was 6 years old. Torres said his grandfather played in Cuba in the 1940s and was even offered a contract to come to the United States to play for the Boston Red Sox, but it didn’t work out.
“I’m just trying to follow in his footsteps,” Torres said.
Vargas, meanwhile, was Miami Springs’ workhorse on the mound. He threw 78 of the team’s 174 innings and pitched to a 1.71 ERA with 79 strikeouts against just 16 walks.
His best pitch is his changeup and his favorite pitcher in the big leagues is Walker Buehler.
“People say we have the same build,” Vargas said. “He’s tall and kind of skinny like me.”
Vargas committed to the University of Miami this season and looks forward to his chance to add his name to Hurricanes lore.
But he has one more season with Miami Springs to get through first.
“Next year, senior year, try to repeat the same thing I did this year,” Vargas said.
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