Vincent Frank
A third-round pick of the Washington Nationals back in 2016, Jesus Luzardo is now attempting to make a name for himself in the Oakland Athletics’ organization. According to ESPN.com, the left-handed pitcher is the A’s fifth-best prospect heading into the 2018 season.
But it was less than two years ago that Luzardo was walking the halls of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida as a high school student. This is the very same school that became the latest victim in a United States that has been defined too often by mass shootings. On Wednesday, 17 people were killed by a former Stoneman Douglas student, someone who Luzardo likely crossed paths with during his time in Parkland.
Now, Luzardo is stepping up in a big way to help the family of one of those souls lost in the school shooting.
The 20-year-old pitcher has started a memorial fund to help the family of Stoneman Douglas AD Chris Hixon, who was killed in the shooting.
“I’m writing this with a heavy heart as Parkland is somewhere I have been lucky enough to call home for the past 18 years of my life,” Luzardo said, via ESPN. “It is a special place where I have made friendships that will last a lifetime and I have made memories that will forever be embedded in my mind. I made relationships with people that I now consider family. It is so difficult to comprehend that some of these people now will not get to live on with their own families. I would not be where I am today if it were not for many of the students and faculty at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, these people molded me into who I am today.”
Indeed. As anyone who played high school sports knows, the athletic director is a big part of your upbringing. For Luzardo, this also hits home in more ways than one. He didn’t simply go to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, he spent the first 18 years of his life living in the Parkland community. This has to be especially difficult for the youngster.
Fellow Marjory Stoneman grad, Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, made it back to his old school for a vigil following the shooting. This has obviously hit home big time for multiple Major League Baseball players as spring training gets going in both Florida and Arizona here soon. It’s nice to see that some are pitching in to help those most impacted by the senseless mass murder.
