Sharks Select Former Brewers And Marlins Scout As New Baseball Coach
Miami Dade College athletics started a new era, hiring veteran scout Lazaro Llanes, who was in the Milwaukee Brewers organization for the past six years, to lead its baseball program.
The 56-year-old has more than 30 years of baseball experience, including stints as a scout with the Miami Marlins, sports director at the Nogae Sports National Baseball Academy in the Dominican Republic, athletic director and head coach at Archbishop Coleman Carroll High School and assistant baseball coach at Westminster Christian.
For Llanes, the announcement—which was officially made on the baseball field at Kendall Campus on Sept. 5 with former MDC head coaches Danny Price and Steve Hertz in attendance and a contingent of student-athletes—is a homecoming.
In 1984, the then 16-year-old infielder tried out for the baseball team at Kendall Campus.
Despite not making the squad, he soaked up head coach Charlie Greene’s knowledge by taking his baseball class for two years, making him eligible to practice with the team.
Llanes still has the textbook—Baseball Playbook by Ron Polk —Greene used for the course
“That’s where it all started, learning from him and moving from that moment on,” Llanes said.
Those who know Llanes say he brings great communication skills, team building prowess, high integrity and an ability to connect with young people.
His new players are eager to get started.
“I feel like we have a very competitive atmosphere,” said Enrique Castillo, a freshman first baseman for the Sharks. “And I think we have a lot of talented guys out here. If we all come together as a team, like I think we will, we’re gonna have a really good year.”
Llanes replaces Adrian Morales who left MDC after four years to serve as the head baseball coach at Nova Southeastern University.
Morales was 126-60-2 in four seasons leading the Sharks. His teams won three straight Southern Conference titles and a state championship in 2021 and he was tabbed conference coach of the year the past two seasons.
In the last three years, four of his players were selected in the Major League Baseball draft. Catcher Juan Gonzalez was picked in the 19th round by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2021, pitcher William Silva was selected in the 15th round by the Atlanta Braves in 2022 and outfielder Wooyeoul Shin and pitcher Herick Hernandez were drafted in 2023.
Shin was selected in the 16th round by the Tampa Bay Rays and Hernandez was picked in the 19th round by the Cincinnati Reds.
“Before I got there, they were really good. After I leave, they’re still going to be good because Miami Dade has just been a powerhouse since baseball started there,” Morales said. “…It’s been a privilege and an honor to just be one of the names that got to coach here.”
The Sharks also officially announced that former major league pitcher Alex Fernandez will serve as a senior advisor to MDC athletics, primarily with the baseball program.
Fernandez, who has known Llanes for 25 years, will assist with recruiting players and coaches and game day strategy.
He played at MDC during the 1990 season going 15-1, winning the Golden Spikes award. After the season, he was drafted in the first-round (the fourth overall pick) of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Chicago White Sox.
The right-hander pitched in 10 MLB seasons—seven for the White Sox and three for the Marlins—going 107-87. He was an integral part of the 1997 Marlins World Series team, going 17-12 that season.
However, Fernandez’s reunion with MDC almost didn’t happen. When President Madeline Pumariega first reached out to him, he rejected her overtures.
But Pumariega persisted.
“She didn’t accept the word no and said, ‘I need you here,’” Fernandez said. “So I’m here and I’m proud to be here. It’s my old stomping grounds.”
Staff writer Jisel Nuevo contributed to this story.
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