Jason Torres of Miami Springs baseball is an elite MVP during MLB All-Star Week in Denver
After receiving a big first-bump of approval from his older brother on a big league field, his cell phone began blowing up.
Miami Springs High School baseball player Jason Torres was named game MVP as the American League beat the National League 8-3 in the second High School All-American Game, run by Major League Baseball and USA Baseball.
The event on Friday (July 9) featured top high school players of the 2022 Draft class during MLB All-Star Week.
What a way to make a name for yourself in an elite event with other elite players.
The game was streamed live via MLB.com and updated via Twitter and other social media channels.
Torres, 17, went 3 for 5 with a home run and five RBI on Coors Field, home of the MLB Colorado Rockies.
MLB and USA Baseball invited Torres to MLB All-Star Week in Denver for the MLB All-Star High School All-American Game and MLB All-Star High School Home Run Derby.
His longtime friend, Sal Stewart of Westminster Christian, was also on the list for both events.
Torres and his older brother, Steven, a former Miami Springs High School baseball player and current Barry University player, traveled to Denver on Thursday, July 8 and returned to Miami on Wednesday, July 14.
MLB covered their expenses.
Torres competed in the All-American Game on Friday (July 9), participated in the High School Home Run Derby on Saturday (July 10), attended the Futures Game and MLB Draft Party on Sunday (July 11), watched the finals of the High School Home Run Derby (cheering for Stewart) and T-Mobile MLB Home Run Derby on Monday (July 12) and attended the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday (July 13).
“[Before the high school home run derby finals], I told Sal, ‘I won the [All-American Game] MVP. Now you gotta win the home run derby.’”
Stewart, a Vanderbilt commit, obliged, tying LSU commit Jared Jones for co-championship honors.
Prior to high school, Torres and Stewart spent three years competing together on the Florida Stealth travel team. That must have been some team. It was. Florida Stealth was the No.1 team in the country.
In the home run derby on Saturday (July 10) at Coors Field, Torres hit 12 home runs.
But it was his All-American Game performance the previous day where Torres turned heads.
Miami Springs High School baseball coach David Fanshawe said: “For Jason to get selected for an event like that and take home MVP honors, that’s a really cool achievement, and he deserves it.
“He is one of the top players in the country, and to go out on that stage against some of the best there is, in that ballpark, it’s good to see that, good for him. He has a bright future.”
Fanshawe reflected on another big moment for the young ball player.
“Everyone started to know him his freshman year. We were nationally ranked against nationally ranked [Plantation] American Heritage in the region semifinals. In that game, Jason, as a freshman, hit a walk-off solo home run to dead centerfield for the 4-3 victory. He went 3 for 4 with two RBI, two runs and that winning home run. That’s when people started to get an idea of who he was. We then won the region championship and reached the state semifinals.”
Click: https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/high-school/prep-miami-dade/article230569124.html
MLB.com writer Jonathan Mayo, who covers the MLB Draft and the Minors for http://MLB.com and http://MLBPipeline.com, covered the recent All-American game.
Mayo noted his top players of the game.
Guess who was No.1?
1. Jason Torres, 3B/1B, Miami Springs Senior High School.
Mayo wrote: “Jason Torres, a corner infielder who is committed to the University of Miami, came ready to swing the bat, going 3-for-5 with a homer and five RBI to earn Most Valuable Player honors. His three-run homer in the sixth gave the AL squad a 3-1 lead, a 375-foot shot to left, according to StatCast, off of a 92-mph fastball from Aiden Moffet. He drove in two more when he laced a line drive on a hanging curve in the top of the ninth.”
Torres is a 1B/3B from 2021 Class 4A region semifinalist Miami Springs High School. Preparing for his senior year, he is committed to the University of Miami. In 2021, he batted .558 with eight home runs and 44 RBI to earn Miami Herald All Dade first team honors in Class 4A-2A.
JGA of Broward (Golf)
During a recent golf tournament under the JGA of Broward banner, Jennifer Lilly (Pembroke Pines, Archbishop McCarthy HS) won the Girls’ Championship Division with 77 (5-over) at Pembroke Lakes County Club in Pembroke Pines.
Nicole Castro (Davie, St. Thomas Aquinas HS) and Kierra Williams (Davie, Western HS) tied for second at 79 (7-over).
In the Girls’ Junior Division, Yool Her (Pembroke Pines) shot 82 (10-over) for first place honors. Gianna Villella (Hollywood, Chaminade-Madonna School) was second at 89 and Elisa Hernandez (Parkland) third at 91.
Alejandro Arteta (Cooper City HS) and Jose Esteras (Pembroke Pines Charter School) tied for first at 76 (4-over) in the Boys’ Championship Division. Colby Oliver was third at 78 (6-over).
In the Boys’ Junior Division, Emilio Garcia finished first at 77 (5-over), followed by Gavin Duffy at 78 (6-over) and Brady Vitucci at 80 (8-over).
The JGA of Broward runs weekly golf tournaments for kids and teens throughout Broward County.
New coaches and award winners
For high schools in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, if you have new hires, or coaches and athletes who won special awards (local, state, regional, nationals), email hssports@miamiherald.com.
This story was originally published July 19, 2021 at 10:36 PM.
