Florida Southwestern State Professional Athletes

Florida Southwestern State | MLB Week of Sept. 20–26

Abimelec Ortiz, Nationals 1B: A Crowded Corner

Abimelec Ortiz is finishing the 2026 season exactly where he doesn't want to be — fighting for his job. The Florida Southwestern State alum wrapped up the week as Washington's first baseman of the moment, but the Nationals have made no secret that the position is a three-way puzzle heading into the offseason, with Ortiz competing alongside prospects Andres Chaparro and Yohandy Morales for long-term claim to the bag.

The numbers aren't doing Ortiz any favors. He slid from a .198 average on September 20 to .188 by the time the Nationals closed out a 1–7 loss to the Mets on September 26, a week-long drift in the wrong direction. He knocked in one run across the four-game stretch but was otherwise quiet offensively, failing to give Washington's front office a compelling closing argument before the offseason evaluations begin.

It's a precarious spot for the Fort Myers product. The Nationals are a franchise in build mode, and with two younger alternatives at first base generating internal buzz, Ortiz's path to a guaranteed roster spot next spring runs through a much stronger finish than what this week delivered. The question isn't just whether he's good enough — it's whether he's good enough right now, when the Nationals have cheaper, younger options they'd like to develop.

Washington went 1–3 in the four games Ortiz appeared in this week, dropping a home set against the Mets and stumbling against Detroit — none of which helped the overall vibe around the ball club heading into the final frames of the season.

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Ryan Gusto, Marlins P: A Quiet Quality Start

While Ortiz's week raised questions, Florida Southwestern's other notable MLB alumnus offered a more encouraging ledger. Marlins pitcher Ryan Gusto took the mound Wednesday in a 3–2 Miami win over the Cubs, working 5.1 innings, striking out five, and allowing two earned runs to drop his ERA to 4.09.

It wasn't a flashy outing, but in a lost Marlins season, a quality-adjacent start that holds up in the win column qualifies as a meaningful data point. Gusto has quietly positioned himself as a serviceable rotation piece heading into 2027 contract conversations, and Wednesday's effort was the kind of reliable mid-rotation showing that keeps a pitcher in organizational good standing.

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The week illustrated the diverging trajectories two FSW alums find themselves on as the 2026 season winds down. Gusto is building a case; Ortiz is fighting to survive one. For Nationals fans who followed Ortiz's path from Fort Myers to Washington, the next few months of roster decisions will be worth watching closely.

Florida Southwestern State in MLB | Sept. 6–12, 2026

Fort Myers doesn't have an MLB team, but Florida Southwestern State is making its presence felt across the big leagues this week — from a historic debut in Miami to a veteran arm quietly building a case for his future.

Josue De Paula Makes History in Dodger Blue

The marquee moment of the week belonged to Josue De Paula, who stepped into the batter's box for the Dodgers on Friday night at loanDepot Park and became the youngest player in the organization in nine years. Batting seventh as the designated hitter in his MLB debut against the Marlins, De Paula's arrival was one of the most anticipated callups of the late-season stretch for Los Angeles. The left-handed hitter's promotion caps what has clearly been a rapid ascent through one of baseball's most talent-stocked systems. It's the kind of debut that doesn't just mark a personal milestone — it signals that the Dodgers believe De Paula is ready to contribute now, not just someday.

The timing made for a full-circle FSW moment: De Paula debuted against a Marlins squad with fellow alumnus Ryan Gusto on the mound.

Gusto Gives Miami Reason to Believe

Gusto has been one of the quieter success stories of the second half, and Friday's start added another encouraging line to that narrative. He went six innings against the Dodgers, surrendering two earned runs and striking out three — a solid, workmanlike outing that kept Miami competitive. His ERA sits at 4.14, and Sports Illustrated noted this week that the Marlins have genuine reason to feel encouraged by his progress as the season winds down.

For a Marlins team navigating a rebuilding phase, seeing a veteran arm stabilize in the rotation is exactly the kind of development the front office needed. Gusto isn't overpowering anyone, but he's eating innings and limiting damage — a valuable combination.

Ortiz Heats Up for Washington

First baseman Abimelec Ortiz had a productive week at the plate for the Nationals. After hovering around the Mendoza line earlier in the period, Ortiz delivered his best game on Saturday, going 2-for-the-day with two RBI, a run scored, and a walk as Washington topped the Angels 6–5. He's been a consistent presence in the lineup across multiple series this week, logging hits in games against the Padres as well. His average climbed to .218 by week's end — modest, but trending in the right direction with the season in its final weeks.

The Bigger Picture

Three FSW alumni in action across three different MLB storylines in a single week is a testament to what the program in Fort Myers has been quietly building. De Paula's debut will get the headlines, and rightfully so — youngest Dodger in nine years is not a footnote. But Gusto's durability and Ortiz's late-season push are the kind of stories that speak to the depth of talent the college continues to send to professional baseball.

This content is AI-generated by FanDaily.