Pace grad, alumni drafted by Major League teams

Just two weeks after his high school graduation from Pace High School, right-handed ace pitcher Christopher Rodriguez was drafted 126th overall in the fourth round of the MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels on June 10. The following day on June 11, Alex Mateo, a Pace alumnus from the Class of 2012, was drafted in the 22nd round of the MLB Draft by the Miami Marlins. 

Rodriguez helped lead the Pace Spartans baseball team all the way to the 2016 FHSAA Class 5A State Finals. He finished his high school career by pitching a 1-0 two-hit shutout against Orlando Bishop Moore in the Class 5A state semifinal. He was named the 2016 6A-2A Pitcher of the Year at The Miami Herald’s All-Dade Athletic Awards and was also named to the The Miami Herald’s 2016 All-Dade First Team after recording 85 strikeouts and a 0.33 ERA in 2016.

Mateo graduated from Nova Southeastern University this year and helped lead the Sharks to their first-ever NCAA Division II National Championship as one of their top pitchers. He earned a 2.96 ERA and struck out 96 hitters in his 2016 season and was named the 2016 Sunshine State Conference Pitcher of the Year.