THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,596 MLB PLAYERS | 16,395 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,596 MLB PLAYERS | 16,395 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Tournaments  | Story | 7/9/2021

PG prep champ Eagles still soaring

Jeff Dahn
Photo: Grant McDonald, Christian Rodriguez (Perfect Game)

FORT MYERS, Fla. – A championship mentality is first created through talent and training and then cultivated through hard work and positive reinforcement. Suffice it to say that many of the players performing for the Eagles Baseball Scout Team at this week’s Perfect Game BCS 16u National Championship have that winning attitude ingrained into their very being.

Credit their baseball backgrounds, the ones that have really taken root since they began their prep careers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., two years ago. The school was the site of a horrific mass shooting in 2017, and the Eagles baseball program has led a resurgence and rebirth that is garnering headlines for much more positive reasons.



This was a truly magical spring for the Stoneman Douglas Eagles. They finished the 2021 campaign with 28-2 record on their way to winning the Florida Class 7A state championship, the big-school class largely regarded as the strongest in the state and one of the strongest in the nation.

As a result, at season’s end the Eagles sat in the cat-bird seat as the No. 1 team in the final PG High School National Top 50 Rankings.

“It was a really good collection of kids [with] talent, chemistry, coaching. It was really a close-knit unit and probably the tightest group of guys that I’ve had in a long, long time,” Stoneman Douglas/ Eagles BST head coach Todd Fitz-Gerald told PG on Thursday, speaking from the Lee County Player Development 5-Plex.

“They were just fun. They came to practice every day and they worked hard. They had one goal in mind and that was to be a state champion.”

Turns out they earned even more than the state championship they had set their sights on winning. Eagles Baseball Scout Team top-500 2022 outfielder/corner-infielder Grant McDonald was a key component on that Stoneman Douglas team and he’s still soaking everything in.

“The experience was amazing, let alone winning a state championship and then we got voted to win the national championship,” he told PG on Thursday. “I won’t forget that for the rest of my life; I’ll always remember that. It was probably the most fun season I’ve ever had.”

Fast-forward a couple of months and many of those same players have traveled across the state to compete on the national stage that is the PG BCS 16u National Championship. It’s an event with 112 teams from across the country and Puerto Rico chasing PG national championship rings that carry a great deal of significance in their own right.

“It’s pretty cool to see all the different teams and how they get ready and how they go about their business,” McDonald said. “It would be awesome to win [this] championship; that’s the goal.”

McDonald is one of eight Stoneman Douglas underclass players rostered with the Eagles BST, and they’re all very talented. Each one finds himself at some level of PG’s national class of 2022, 2023 or 2024 prospect rankings with ’23 outfielder/right-hander Christian Rodriguez leading the way at No. 22. A dynamic presence, Rodriguez is an alumnus of both the 2019 PG 13u Select Baseball Festival and the 2020 PG 14u Select Fest.

In addition to Rodriguez and McDonald, the Eagles Baseball ST also boasts the talents of other Douglas standouts like 2022 outfielder/right-hander Brandon White (t-1,000); left-hander/outfielder Jacob Gomberg (No. 276, Florida commit) and Dillon Moquin (t-1,000) from the class of 2023, and catcher/left-hander Niko Benestad (No. 172) and middle-infielder Devin Fitz-Gerald (follow) out of the 2024 class, among others.

“Staying with the same group, staying with our boys, keeping that chemistry and keeping our bond tight” is very beneficial,” Rodriguez said. “And rolling into next year [after] this great summer together, it’s a lot of fun.”

Todd Fitz-Gerald firmly believes that when you have guys who have been playing together, learning from one another and accomplishing great things during their high school baseball experiences, it only makes sense to try to keep them together during the summer. He sees it as a bit of a win-win because these underclassmen represent the future of his program at Stoneman Douglas.

“And they’re getting coached by their high school coach. What more do you want?” he added. “They’re getting plenty of exposure, plenty of notoriety, plenty of everything – it’s really a no-brainer.”

There are, obviously, highly-touted players from other schools on board with this team as well, including No. 291-ranked 2022 Edian Espinal; No. 262 ’23 Paul Guerne (Duke); No. 392 ’23 catcher/infielder Javier Gorostola (FIU). There is also top-500 2023s Bradley Link (Richmond), Andrew Ildefonso, and Robbie Demetree, top-1,000 Joshua Ramos and high-follow Mel Rubiera (FIU), all from the Miami area.

Coach Fitz-Gerald emphasized that this is one team owned and operated by Scott Link and it is not an expansive organization. Link allowed Fitz-Gerald and his other coaches at Stoneman Douglas to put the team together while also bringing in several players of his own to round-out the roster.

“It’s really been a really good marriage,” Fitz-Gerald said. “We just have a good time with these kids because they’re all baseball players. Maybe not the greatest top-to-bottom but they get after it and they play hard and that’s all I ask.”

Rodriguez, the highly regarded junior-to-be, agreed with his coach: “We hold ourselves to pretty high standards. Obviously, we have a lot of fun and we win and we don’t [expect] anything less than that; that’s our goal, really...Each and every one of us wants to win. We help each other to win, our coaches put us in positions to win and we can’t really ask for any more than that.”

The Eagles Baseball Scout Team had been enjoying a fine summer even before arriving here in Southwest Florida, posting a 15-2-0 record at three events. That includes a 7-0-0 championship effort at the PG WWBA 16u National Qualifier June 18-21 up in Hoover, Ala.

And the PG BCS 16u isn’t the end of the road by any means. They’ll be at the PG WWBA 16u National Championship in Marietta, Ga., July 15-22 and at the PG 16u World Series in Sanford, Fla., July 24-28.

“I still think we’re a couple of bats light from being really explosive,” Fitz-Gerald said. “But man, on the mound we can be really good. We’re always going to have a chance with the guys we run out on the mound and that’s all you can ask for.”

Off to a 3-0-0 start after two days of pool-play with two more to follow, he went with the ’22 right-hander White and ’23 righty Bradley Link in Wednesday’s opener, and the ’23 righty Ildefonso and the ’23 lefty Guerne in Thursday’s first game, both wins.

In Thursday’s nightcap, an 8-3 win over the Colorado Yard Dawgs Dillinger, Fitz-Gerald went with ’23 lefties Gomberg, Cullen McConathy (t-1000) and Mel Rubiera and the right-hander Moquin.

The hottest bats are being swung by Demetree, Espinal, McDonald, Rodriguez, Moquin and Gorostola; Espinal and Gorostola each had five RBI through three games and McDonald had four. The Eagles outscored their first three pool-play opponents by a combined 27-9.

The approach the coaches take with their players changes slightly from the high school season to the travel ball season, Fitz-Gerald said. Travel ball is a little more loose because practice time is so limited and the challenge is doing as much as you can in the little time you have to work with them. The key, he said, is finding the right combination that clicks once the players are out on the field.

“At the end of the day they’re 16 years old, right, so you’ve always got to talk to them,” Fitz-Gerald continued. “You’ve just got to keep them focused and understand the prize. You’ve got to keep them mentally in the right frame of mind, you’ve got to really condition their bodies and you’ve just got to take care of them...You can’t take a play off in this game and expect to be successful.”

Travel ball is different from the high school season in another respect, as well. Travel ball teams are much more heavily scouted than a typical high school team if for no other reason than there’s a far greater representation of scouts and college recruiters at these hundred-team PG national tournaments than at a typical high school venue.

The Eagles Baseball Scout Team coaching staff – which is also the Stoneman Douglas staff – understands that player development and optimum exposure are at the roots of travel ball. They want to promote their players and they also want to win, because the deeper a run a team makes in the playoffs translates into more exposure and more opportunities for a prospect to produce.

That’s a fact not lost on these players either, so they’re out there trying to multi-task in a sense: “We know we have to do our individual jobs but in the end it’s a team sport,” McDonald said. “We’ve got to come together as a team and win as a team...I think we’re a really close group, I think we can turn it on when we need to and we can get the job done.”

Looking around at his teammates while they took some cuts in the 5-Plex’s batting cages on Thursday, McDonald liked what he saw. He feels at ease being around these guys, a feeling of contentment brought about by a sense of familiarity and a shared commitment:

“We all have the mentality to win. We’re all really close on and off the field and we just love the grind,” he said.

It was the same grind the players who were part of the Stoneman Douglas state and national championships embraced every step of the way: “It was surreal just with the chemistry we had; the way we played with each other,” Rodriguez said. “We played hard and we had such a great season. We had fun doing it but we took it seriously and we came out on top.”

Coach Fitz-Gerald could only smile looking back on what was the second Florida state championship he’s guided the Stoneman Douglas Eagles to during his 10-year tenure, with the first coming in 2016. He called this year’s group “the cardiac kids” in reference to the large number of come-from-behind wins it pulled out on the way to that glossy 28-2 record.

“I thought we were a pretty complete team: pitching, hitting and defense all the way around, so it was really a special year,” he concluded, “and the good thing is, we’re probably on pace to do it again [next] year.”

That can only mean one thing: Keep an eye out for the 17u version of the Eagles Baseball Scout Team in the summer of 2022.
Give us your feedback
Tournaments | Championship | 8/12/2026

Pokers Rally to Capture 16U BCS Title
Alyssa Golden
Article Image
Pokers Rally to Capture 16U BCS Title A hot afternoon at JetBlue Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida ended in a 9-1 victory for the Original Florida Pokers 2028 National, defeating SBA Bolts Florida 2028 National on Monday to capture the 16U BCS National Championship. A pitchers’ duel kept the game scoreless through four innings before the Pokers broke it open with a five-run fifth inning. The title marked the Pokers’ second 16U BCS Championship, adding to the championship they won in 2022. Despite a slow start to the summer, the Pokers found their stride at the right time. “We struggled a lot early in the summer, but the past few tournaments we really started turning it on,” Pokers head coach Will McCrimon said. “I’m just so proud of these kids.” Max Maynes started the game on the mound for the Pokers. The left-hander allowed three hits and two walks...
Read More
All American Game | Story | 8/15/2026

A Philly Dream for Steingall

Jim Salisbury
Article Image
PHILADELPHIA – Carson Steingall had been to Citizens Bank Park many times over the years. After all, he hails from Nazareth, Pa., about 90 minutes up the road from the home of the Philadelphia Phillies and he counts himself as a big fan of the team. Zack Wheeler is his favorite. Steingall realized a dream when he pitched from the same mound that Wheeler does in Perfect Game’s fourth annual All-Star Game for rising sophomores and juniors on Friday. The dream got even better when Steingall, a 16-year-old right-hander, was named Most Valuable Pitcher after striking out the side in the third inning of the National team’s 6-1 victory over the American team. “It’s just an honor to be here,” Steingall said after receiving his trophy. “This event is the best of the best. It’s really cool to win something like this.” Steingall, who’ll...
Read More
Showcase | Story | 8/13/2026

PG Honors Pat Gillick With Philly Showcase

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Perfect Game to honor Pat Gillick in new Philadelphia Showcase  By Maya Heyman Perfect Game is bringing its elite showcase experience to Philadelphia’s FDR Park for the inaugural Philly Stars/Pat Gillick Showcase this weekend, honoring one of the greatest executives in MLB history in the city where he constructed his final of three World Series winners. The event will take place on Sunday, the same day as the DICK’S All-American Classic, taking place just across the street at Citizens Bank Park.  The showcase will allow Philadelphia-area players to gain exposure and will also honor Gillick, who has been a tremendous influence in both professional and amateur baseball.   Jered Goodwin, Vice President of Scouting Operations for Perfect Game, said the idea came naturally.  “Going to Philly made a lot of sense to honor Pat Gillick, who's been a...
Read More
General | General | 8/13/2026

PG All-Star Game Heads to Philly

Jheremy Brown
Article Image
For the fourth time since its inception in 2023, two rosters comprised of the best rising juniors (and a handful of rising sophomores) will step out onto the field Friday afternoon, kicking off the All-American weekend. While the Perfect Game All-American Classic is slated for a 1:35 first pitch at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, 36 future hopefuls of the Classic will go up against one another in an American vs National clash at 11 AM Eastern, Friday morning.  With 36 players from across the country descending on Philadelphia, there will be plenty of familiar names in attendance as 24 of the 36 played in at least one PG Select Festival and all 36 attended either the he Sophomore National, Junior National, or the PG Underclass All-American Games this summer. Leading the charge are a pair of No. 1s in 2028 dynamic talent Dexter McCleon Jr and 2029 Macgraw VanWormer, a do-it-all...
Read More
Draft | Story | 8/11/2026

Realistic Expectations of a 1:1 Pick

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Over the 2026 draft cycle, UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky was the projected No. 1 pick throughout the entire cycle. White Sox fans began #RochWatch and were already talking about when he will make it to Chicago. Now that he has been selected, Cholowsky has immediately become a Top-10 prospect in all of baseball. There is no denying the hype, and the pressure, for Chowlosky to get to the big leagues and produce at a high level.  But how realistic is that? Let’s take a look back at past 1:1 selections and see what you can expect from a No. 1 overall selection.  For this exercise, we’ll look at No. 1 overall picks from the bonus pool era, excluding Eli Willits from 2025 since this is his first full year of pro ball. That gives us 13 players selected from 2012 through 2024.  Almost All Become Big Leaguers The first thing that stands out is how successful No. 1 picks...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 8/11/2026

Perfect Game & Goat'd Come Together

Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME AND GOAT'D PARTNER TO BRING PREMIUM PROTECTIVE GEAR TO THE NATION'S TOP AMATEUR BASEBALL PLAYERS   Sanford, Florida (Tuesday, August 11, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced a new partnership with Goat'd, a premium protective gear brand focused on developing innovative products for athletes. The partnership will bring Goat'd's premium protective equipment to some of the nation's top amateur baseball players and families across Perfect Game's premier national events. The partnership will debut at several of Perfect Game's marquee events, including the 13U Select Fest, 14U Select Fest, Perfect Game All-Star Game and...
Read More
General | General | 8/8/2026

12U Game Time: 8/9/2026 1PM Eastern

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Sunday August 9th, 2026 1:00PM Eastern DICK'S Sporting Goods Park at East Cobb West vs. East Follow and watch the game
Read More
General | General | 8/8/2026

11U Game Time: 8/8/2026 Noon Eastern

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Saturday August 8th, 2026 12:00PM Eastern DICK'S Sporting Goods Park at East Cobb West vs. East Follow and watch the game
Read More
Draft | Story | 8/7/2026

2026 MLB Draft Team Reports: NL West

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
2026 MLB Draft Team Report Cards: AL West With the 2026 MLB Draft officially in the books, it’s time to evaluate how each team performed. Every draft class was graded using the standard 20-80 scouting scale with risk factor assigned. While these grades won’t be proven right or wrong for years, they reflect the overall talent, value, and upside each organization added to its system. NL West Arizona Diamondbacks  Grade: 50 Risk: High Notable Selections: C Ryder Helfrick (1st rd) | RHP Blake Bryant (CB-A rd) | SS Carson Kerce (2nd rd) | OF Brayden Dowd (3rd rd)  Ryder Helfrick (@RazorbackBSB ) different AB; same result. He goes dead central for a solo 💣 this time. Threw a runner out earlier; 1.98 pop. #PGCollege @PG_Draft https://t.co/kW7wraqExJ pic.twitter.com/SARYKxd0oE — PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) February 14, 2026 The Diamondbacks started their...
Read More
College | Story | 8/7/2026

Cape Cod League Notebook: August 7

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
RHP Jason Flores (@BaseballUGA) Showed some electric stuff, up to 98 several times CT, SL, CH to round out the arsenal in his 5IP 9K performance. @HarwichMariners So./‘27 elig pic.twitter.com/p2nTvkFnWh — PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) August 5, 2026 Jason Flores | RHP | University of Georgia | Harwich Mariners  Flores heads to Georgia this fall looking to reestablish himself as one of the premier arms in the 2027 draft class after showing significant promise during his freshman season at Texas. Flores posted a 2.78 ERA over 32.1 innings as a freshman before a limited sophomore campaign in which he logged just 12 innings. The stuff was on full display this summer, highlighted by a dominant five-inning, nine-strikeout playoff performance in which he touched 98 mph five different times. His fastball averaged nearly 96 mph throughout his time on the Cape, pairing the...
Read More
Loading more articles...
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2026 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.