FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The "almighty" Division I churns out more professional prospects on a year-to-year basis, but in 2018, Division II baseball has the right to puff its chest a bit as well, particularly at Nova Southeastern. In the midst of two standout seasons, including one worthy of MVP consideration, former Sharks J.D. Martinez and Mike Fiers are both back in the MLB postseason with their sights set on the World Series.
Nova Southeastern nearly placed three players in the playoffs, yet current St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher, and former teammate of Martinez and Fiers, Miles Mikolas watched his postseason chances fizzle out on the second to last day of the regular season. Despite falling just short of the postseason, Mikolas earned an All-Star selection in his return to the MLB following a three-year stint in Japan. The 30-year old tied for the National League lead in wins (18), and ranked fourth in the league in ERA (2.84).
The impressive numbers are something Nova Southeastern Director of Athletics, Michael Mominey, the former head coach of all three student-athletes from his 2009 team, can certainly take a great deal of pride in as the playoffs begin, as his former players have all made a name for themselves as they live out their dreams as impact MLB players.
"I can't say enough about the successes of J.D., Mike and Miles," said Mominey. "They obviously have a great deal to be proud of in their professional careers and all of us at NSU and in this community take pride that they are from here. The really cool part, besides being teammates on that '09 team, is that they remain very good friends and hang out quite a bit in the offseason, often coming back to campus and spending time with our current players. Our mission here at NSU has always been to instill the appreciation of the opportunity you have as an NSU Shark student-athlete and to represent yourself, your family and your university in the best possible manner. Well, these young men have done that and much more in my opinion."
After reaching October with the Arizona Diamondbacks last fall, Martinez has somehow increased his offensive production this year in his first season with the Boston Red Sox. Surrounded by fellow MVP candidate Mookie Betts and players like Andrew Benintendi and Xander Bogaerts, Martinez has completed the puzzle in what has become arguably the most feared lineup in baseball. In 150 games played, the 20th round draft pick from back in 2009 mashed 43 home runs, an MLB-best 130 RBI, and scored 111 runs all while hitting at a ridiculous .330 clip. Safe to say, the D'Backs likely wish they hadn't let Martinez walk in free agency.
Lost in the mix of an uninspiring season by Detroit Tigers, Fiers returned to the forefront following a midseason deal that sent him to an up-and-coming Oakland Athletics club. The right-hander has allowed one run or less in half of his 10 appearances since heading to the west coast, compiling a strong 5-2 record to go along with an ERA of 3.74. Upon his arrival in Oakland, Fiers helped transform the A's from a team on the outside looking in into one that nearly stole the American League West division from the defending world champion Houston Astros. The postseason appearance marks the first for the franchise since 2014.
Oakland opens the postseason Wednesday night in a do-or-die matchup with the New York Yankees. And if the A's prevail? Fiers and company will then advance to the American League Division Series to face none other than Martinez and the Red Sox. What a time for Nova Southeastern baseball.
"If that scenario plays out, I may have to make another trip back to Fenway– wouldn't that be special for the NSU program," Mominey grinned. "I'm not sure who I would ask for tickets, but whoever came through first, I guess I would need to sit behind their dugout with their teams gear on!"
