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Preseason Top 25: No. 4 Stoneman Douglas

February 1, 2016

By Justin Burgess
Florida Area Scout

For the 4th-ranked team in the preseason top 25, we head back down to South Florida to highlight another strong 9A program. This will be yet another squad who will not only look to make it further than they did a year ago, but also to win a state title.

In 2015, the Eagles won their district championship and then fell in the regional finals to a loaded Park Vista squad. This year, however, Douglas returns two of their best players, both of whom are ranked as top ten prospects in the state. 2016 LHP Jesus Luzardo is the third overall prospect in Florida and is extremely polished with the ability to throw three pitches for strikes in any count. The Miami Signee can run his fastball up to 93-94 mph and he possesses a mature demeanor on the mound. We should not be surprised if Luzardo is taken in the top five rounds of the MLB draft. 2016 SS Colton Welker is the other highly-touted prospect on this Douglas roster. Welker, another Miami Signee, is one of the best pure bats in the state and has proven over and over that he can consistently find the barrel against top-level pitching. Welker has a loose and strong frame at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds and has the chance to be taken in the top ten rounds of the upcoming draft if he has a big senior year. Both Luzardo and Welker are a rare combination in that they have the ability to almost single-handedly lead their team to a win over any opponent on any given night. That being said, one arm, no matter good, is not enough to win a state championship in Class 9A.

Luckily for the Eagles, their number two arm is another Miami commit. 2016 LHP Brandon Kaminer is a confident and aggressive lefty who really made a name for himself at this fall’s Dynasty Games. His fastball sits in the 84-87 mph range and he also fills up the zone with a solid curveball and changeup. This starting rotation of Luzardo and Kaminer should lead Douglas far into the postseason in 2016.

As for their offense, 2016 1B John McKenna will likely be protecting Welker in the cleanup spot and should be able to drive in plenty of runs for the Eagles. The Army Signee stands at 6-foot-4 and can really swing the bat with some pop. Besides Welker, McKenna will probably be driving in players like Ivan Nunez and Kyle Shay. Nunez is a scrappy infielder who will likely be playing second base and hitting towards the top of the order. He is an athletic player and an above average runner as he consistently runs a 6.8. Shay is a dependable two-way player who sits in the mid-80s with his fastball, can track down balls in the outfield, and is reliable at the plate.

Even though Taravella will likely be their biggest challenge, Douglas should be able to repeat a district championship without much of a struggle. As far as their region is concerned, it will be incredibly competitive as teams like Jupiter, Boca Raton, and Flanagan will all be vying for a state tournament bid. Even though there is no clear cut favorite to win this regional, Douglas has as good of a chance as anyone to take the crown.