Baseball preview: Top pitching prospect looking to help Douglas extend title run
Broward County baseball teams continue to put together dominant seasons this decade, highlighted by a historic state championship run by Stoneman Douglas.
The Eagles are on a state-record march of five consecutive state titles, and don’t figure to slow down any time soon.
Three Broward teams won state titles last year as the Eagles were joined by St. Thomas Aquinas and American Heritage.
It was the second consecutive season Broward County had three state champions and fifth year in a row where at least two teams brought home gold.
The county is replete with baseball talent once again heading into this season.
And its most dominant team in recent memory has the top pitching prospect in the state at the top of its rotation.
Here’s a look at Broward’s baseball best as the 2026 season gets underway.
SOARING FOR SIX?
Senior lefty Gio Rojas showed everyone his strong pitch arsenal on the mound during a dominant junior season at Douglas.
Rojas is a towering presence at 6-4, 190 pounds, and is expected to eventually continue the Eagles’ pipeline to the major leagues, which includes the likes of Anthony Rizzo, Roman Anthony and Jesus Luzardo.
Rojas, a University of Miami signee, has touched 98 mph on his fastball and complements it with a nasty slider, which helped him go 13-0 with 120 strikeouts last season while compiling an 0.72 ERA.
Rojas bats right-handed and hit .375 with two homers, eight doubles and 32 RBI as well to complement Douglas’ lineup.
This season, Rojas should get plenty of run support as the Eagles return one of their better lineups in recent years. Senior Lorenzo Laurel, a Florida Gators commit, leads a stacked outfield, along with RJ Ruiz, a transfer from Windermere High. Senior third baseman Jake Rizzo, a Dayton commit and nephew of Anthony Rizzo, is back along with senior second baseman Cade Raley.
Senior catcher Jackson Taylor, an NC State commit, will now anchor things behind the plate.
The biggest question for the Eagles is can the pitchers beyond Rojas step up and lead them to another title? Righthanders Drew Boivin (NW Florida State), Ben Bianchi (UCF commit) and Reid Dadic (Daytona State commit) will be the top options.
RAIDER REPEAT?
St. Thomas Aquinas put on a memorable power display in 2025 as its lineup hit 68 home runs to help the Raiders secure their first state championship since 2018.
Aquinas’ quest to win a fifth state title all-time will be led by two of those top power hitters - senior center fielder Nico Sabatino and senior corner infielder Brady Buxbaum.
Sabatino, an Appalachian State commit, hit .432 with eight home runs and scored 48 runs last season. Buxbaum, a USF commit, hit nine home runs last season and hit .444 with an .838 slugging percentage. Senior Jaden Doverspike, one of the Raiders’ most consistent hitters, also returns. Aquinas’ lineup also got a boost from Chaminade transfer Jake Carruthers, a junior outfielder who hit .405 with five home runs.
Aquinas will be counting on senior Julian Diaz, who went 9-2 with 60 strikeouts and a 3.08 ERA, to complement their tough lineup.
PITCHING PATRIOTS
American Heritage having strong pitching is nothing new. But this season, the Patriots may have one of the deepest staffs they’ve ever had.
Senior Brady Snow, a Florida commit, and Jimmy Huard, a Vanderbilt commit, will form one of the top 1-2 punches at the top of a rotation in the state as the Patriots look to repeat in Class 4A and win their fifth state title overall.
Seniors Santiago Montiel, Mason McGeehan and junior Enrique Santos will back them up both as starters and relievers.
If Heritage is to prevail, it will need a younger lineup to produce enough offense to complement those arms. Junior shortstop Blayden Caballero is one of the top bats returning for the Patriots.
RETURN TO PAST GLORY?
After four consecutive seasons of advancing to the state finals, a run that included three state titles, North Broward Prep (23-8 last season) suffered its earliest exit in the playoffs this decade last year after being swept by Clearwater Calvary Christian.
The Eagles will rely on a strong core of juniors and underclassmen they hope can become a strong core like the one that carried them on their recent sustained run of championships.
Senior right-handed pitcher Jack Rostock will be one of the veteran leaders at the top of NBP’s rotation, along with right-handed junior Logan Bristol. Junior outfielder Alejandro Cabral and infielder Zach Tavarez lead the Eagles’ lineup.
Archbishop McCarthy (19-13, 5A regional semifinalist) lost 14 players who either graduated or transferred. But Mavericks coach and former major league pitcher Mike Fiers believes his team still has the talent to compete for a state title.
McCarthy’s chase for state title No. 8 all-time and its first since 2017 begins with senior shortstop Miguel Delgado, a third team All-Broward selection last season. Seniors Robert Kerns, the starting quarterback on the Mavericks’ football team which just had its best season in school history, Androckles Larsen and Felipe Benitez lead the pitching staff.
BREAKTHROUGH CONTENDERS
West Broward (21-14, 7A regional finalist) went toe-to-toe with national juggernaut Douglas and nearly sent their regional finals series to a decisive third game before losing 8-7. The Bobcats return a senior-laden roster capable of pushing the reigning champs to the limit again this season.
Ace and University of Miami commit Ivan Sabater leads the way on the mound and forms a formidable battery with senior catcher and Miami Dade College signee Manuel Sarcos. Brendan Aguila, a College of Central Florida signee, along with Reggie Rodriguez and Adrian Bermudez add depth to the rotation. Shortstop AJ Cruz, a Samford signee, center fielder Ethan Lindor, a Missouri State commit, and outfielder Everett Suazo, a Barry commit, lead West Broward’s lineup.
Chaminade-Madonna (24-5, 2A regional quarterfinalist) returns one of the most dominant aces in the state in senior Spencer Krasner and enters its first season with veteran coach Jerry Albert at the helm. Albert, who took over as the school’s co-athletic director last summer, has 425 career wins, led Belen Jesuit to the state final four in 2016 and guided Coral Springs Charter to multiple regional playoff appearances.
Krasner, the Miami Herald’s 4A-1A Pitcher of the Year, a South Carolina signee and MLB Draft prospect, leads the Lions’ rotation, along with seniors Santi Arismendi and Aiden Fitzgerald. But Albert is counting on a talented lineup to emerge and back up their arms. The group is led by senior outfielder A.J. Vargas, senior catcher Isaiah Fernandez and junior infielder Josh Wright.
MORE OUTLOOKS
Western (13-16, 7A regional quarterfinalist) could be in store for a big season if its pitching can step up in big games. In charge of managing the rotation as well as bolstering its lineup and defense will be senior catcher Jorge Falagan, who threw out 68 percent of runners last season. Senior pitcher Alec Hernandez leads the Wildcats’ rotation, along with juniors Christian Morales and James Gil.
NSU University School (23-6, 2A regional quarterfinalist) suffered a disappointing first-round regional playoff exit following a promising regular season and graduated several key standouts. But a group led by senior pitchers Matthew Greenberg and Aidan Jacobs, senior first baseman Mark Manuel, and junior second baseman Landon Combs. All four players will likely pitch this season.
Pembroke Pines Charter (14-14, 5A regional semifinalist) will aim for a return to the regional playoffs led by the senior duo of pitcher/first baseman Dean Jaworski and second baseman Aydan Velasquez.
Calvary Christian (15-11-3, 3A regional quarterfinalist) will try to return to the playoffs, led by senior pitcher/shortstop Preston Bielec, who hit six home runs last season and drove in 30 runs. Senior Blake Sundberg and junior Cole Diehl bring versatility to their lineup as well.
Pine Crest (15-8-2, 3A regional quarterfinalist) will be led once again by the senior duo of infielder Micah Billig and shortstop/pitcher Stephen Gladding. Billig hit .461 with three homers and 27 RBI last season to earn first team All-Broward honors.
Westminster Academy (12-12) has a new coach in Jason Stettner, and his goal will be to return the Lions to title contender status after they missed the playoffs a year ago. Junior outfielder Trey Hollandsworth, the son of former Marlins’ outfielder Todd Hollandsworth, will spearhead that effort along with junior third baseman Jayden Garcia. Junior right-hander Ryan Dejnak and sophomore righty Javier Sanchez top Westminster’s rotation.
Cardinal Gibbons (11-16, 3A regional quarterfinalist) is two years removed from a state championship season, and returns a younger group that will try to return the Chiefs to contention. A strong group of juniors which includes pitcher/shortstop Vic Norori, second baseman Randy Petron, outfielder/pitcher Danny Silveria and center fielder/pitcher JJ Pavlou, leads Gibbons.
Somerset Academy (12-16) is aiming to battle the top teams in Class 4A for a postseason berth this season led by standout center fielder Jon Mora, who hit .531 with 38 stolen bases last season. Junior shortstop Alan Sanchez and senior pitchers Kareem Amer and Julio Cardoso are others to watch.
Flanagan (12-18, 6A regional quarterfinalist) won’t have much experience on its roster entering the season. But a group led by senior shortstop Caden Corzo, junior catchers Chris Duran-Robinson and Edwin Nodal and versatile junior first baseman/outfielder Gavin Marte will look to defy expectations.
Coral Glades (14-6) is looking for a fresh start under new coach Ernie Gonzalez, who spent the past years at Westminster Academy where he made the Lions a consistent state title contender. Pitcher Jason Lincoln, an Eastern Florida State College signee, anchors the Jaguars’ pitching staff while senior outfielders Caleb Kohnert and Shawn Whoriskey lead their lineup.
Fort Lauderdale (6-14) will shoot for a breakthrough season led by senior shortstop Jake Delnegri and senior pitcher/outfielder Finn O’Brien. Junior Bryce Moody will add depth to the Flying L’s pitching staff and sophomore first baseman Masson Leal could add power to their lineup.
Boyd Anderson (9-5) will be led by a quartet of seniors in pitcher Trevelle Roberts, right fielder Marcus Reid, left fielder Jalen Farlow and center fielder Prince McDonald and sophomore catcher/pitcher Kwon Love.
