In baseball, rich talent is everywhere. From Los Angeles to the Midwest to New York or the Dominican Republic and even Japan, there are many talented young men and women playing America’s pastime. And much of the talent we see today at the highest level comes from South Florida. The tri-county area of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach is known for having very skilled baseball players. This article lists the top five current MLB baseball players from the area, all of who have gone on to win a World Series or multiple individual accolades.
Anthony Rizzo
Born: Parkland, Florida
Current Team: New York Yankees
Born in Parkland, Anthony Rizzo was one of the most prolific hitters at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the early 2000s. After being drafted by the Boston Red Sox 2007 MLB Draft, he later made his MLB debut in 2011 and is now gearing up for his thirteenth season in the show. Rizzo spent a majority of his career with the Chicago Cubs, from 2012-2021, where he won a World Series ring in 2016. Now, Rizzo, 33, is preparing for his third year with the Yankees and looking to bounce back after a down year. The left-handed hitter matched his career-high at 32 home runs, yet hit just .224 and had an on-base percentage of .338, his lowest since 2013.
Nick Castellanos
Born: Davie, Florida
Current Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Born in Davie and raised in Fort Lauderdale, MLB outfielder Nick Castellanos played for his alma mater, Archbishop McCarthy High School. Castellanos became one of the top hitters in all of the state, winning Gatorade Player of the Year in 2010. The right-handed batter was taken with the 44th overall pick by the Detroit Tigers in the 2010 MLB Draft. Castellanos, 30, spent seven seasons with Detroit, then traded to Chicago in July of 2019. He spent two seasons in Cincinnati, including hitting a career-high of .309 in 2021 and was named an All-Star for the first time in his career. In the 2021 offseason, Castellanos signed a five-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he helped lead his team to a 2022 World Series appearance, but lost to the Houston Astros in six games.
Eric Hosmer
Born: South Miami, Florida
Current Team: Chicago Cubs
Raised in Cooper City nand born in South Miami, current Cubs first baseman Eric Hosmer was known as the best high school power hitters in all of the country. Playing for American Heritage High School, Hosmer hit .470 with 11 home runs in his senior season, gaining notoriety from scouts. He was taken as the third overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals. Hosmer spent seven seasons with Kansas City including winning a World Series ring in 2015. After a five-season stint with the San Diego Padres from 2018-2022, Hosmer was traded to the Red Sox this past season where he hit .268 with 44 RBIs. The 33-year-old signed a one-year contract in the offseason with the Chicago Cubs, looking to bring his veteran experience to a young Chicago team.
Jonathan India
Born: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Current Team: Cincinnati Reds
The 26-year-old infielder is a rising star in the MLB known for his athletic abilities at the plate and in the infield. Jonathan India grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Fl attending American Heritage in Delray Beach, hitting .405 as a senior. He decided to commit to the University of Florida, where he was the top hitter in all of the Southeastern Conference, being named the 2018 Player of the Year. India was taken by the Cincinnati Reds as the fifth overall pick in 2018. His rookie season in 2021, India was named the National League Rookie of the Year, hitting .269 with 21 home runs. The second baseman is looking to build in his third full season in 2023 part of a young core in Cincinnati.
Manny Machado
Born: Miami, Florida
Current Team: San Diego Padres
Growing up in Miami, Manny Machado was highly regarded at a young age for his talent on the diamond. As a senior at Brito High School in Miami, Machado’s talent did not go unrecognized, hitting .639 including 44 extra base hits. Machado was selected as the third overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles. The six-time All-Star spent seven seasons in Baltimore before getting traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018. Machado then signed a 10-year, $300 million dollar contract in 2019 with his current club, the San Diego Padres. He had an MVP-caliber 2022 season hitting .298 with 32 home runs and 102 RBIs. Machado, 30, is primed for another important season as the Padres look to make a run for the World Series.
