Sunset’s Hidalgo, Gulliver’s Lombard are the Dade 5A-2A Pitcher, Player of the Year
Gulliver Prep shortstop George Lombard Jr. and Miami Sunset pitcher Johan Hidalgo each had their share of obstacles to overcome heading into the 2023 season.
Lombard Jr., one of this year’s top Major League Baseball draft prospects and a Vanderbilt University signee, kept his team on course despite early-season injuries and a late-season coaching change.
And Hidalgo’s right arm powered a Sunset team that went from just learning how to win a game to winning bigger than ever before.
Both players led their teams to the state final four in their respective classes, and both Lombard Jr. and Hidalgo are the Miami Herald’s Class 5A-2A Players of the Year for Miami-Dade County.
Hidalgo earned Pitcher of the Year honors after compiling a 6-1 record with a 0.55 ERA and 51 strikeouts, leading the Knights to several key wins including the school’s first ever regional championship against Key West High.
Hidalgo, who is headed to Dyersburg State College in Tennessee, struck out eight over 6 ⅓ innings and gave up only one unearned run on four hits in that game as Sunset made it to state for the first time after going a combined 1-31 over the previous two seasons.
“This is the best team chemistry we’ve had on any of the teams I played for in all four years of high school,” said Hidalgo, who transferred from Sunset to South Miami after his freshman season, but transferred back before his senior year. “I saw a big difference immediately this year. We weren’t as tight and close as we are now. This team is always together.”
Hidalgo, who missed some starts in late March/early April due to injury, also struck out eight over five innings in Sunset’s upset win over Jensen Beach in the regional quarterfinals - the Knights’ first playoff win since 2013.
“Making it to state is one of the biggest deals for anyone playing this sport and it was an amazing experience and we just believed that we could do it,” Hidalgo said.
Lombard Jr. increased his power numbers this season, hitting six home runs and 14 doubles, while batting .512 with 24 RBI to lead Gulliver to its first trip to state since 2015.
Lombard Jr. grew up in a baseball family. His father, George Sr., is the bench coach for the Detroit Tigers and his younger brother, Jacob, is a freshman third baseman for Gulliver, and already one of the top pro prospects for the Class of 2026.
But while Lombard Jr. has all the physical tools to excel at the next level, he said he learned valuable lessons when it comes to the mental aspect of the game during a season that ended with the Raiders changing head coaches during the playoffs and still putting together a dramatic run to the Class 3A state semifinals.
“The message of our team was to block out the noise,” Lombard Jr. said. “We did a really good job of living in the present and that was a good lesson for everyone to take from this season.”
Lombard Jr., who also won a state championship with his brother while playing for the Raiders’ soccer team in February, is ready to take the next step which could be a jump to pro ball if he signs with whichever team selects him in July’s draft or playing for one of college baseball’s premier powerhouses.
“It’ll get a little busy for me coming up, but it was definitely a good year for us. We exceeded some of our expectations. We made a pretty good run. Unfortunately, it didn’t end the way we wanted it to but I’m proud of my team and how we responded to a lot of adversity this year.”
