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High School Hot Stove Issue

Backstop-17Backstop-17500+ posts
Son's high school team pitcher that pitched and won the state championship game(pitcher was a sophomore when son was a senior) has been ruled ineligible by the Florida High School Athletic Association.

The high school is appealing the ruling. I think he should be allowed to play due to the conditions of his exit from Cuba, however, rules are rules.

I was discussing with Floridafan and he thought it might make for a good discussion here. What does everyone think? See story and link below:

TAMPA - Alonso High senior baseball standout Jose Fernandez has been ruled ineligible for the 2011 season by the Florida High School Athletics Association, Ravens coach Landy Faedo confirmed Tuesday.

The ruling stems from FHSAA bylaw 9.5.1, which states "a student has four consecutive calendar years of eligibility from the date he/she begins ninth grade for the first time."

Faedo said the discrepancy involves Fernandez's 10th-grade year, during which time he was attempting to flee from Cuba.

According to Faedo, Fernandez began high school in Cuba in 2006. He attempted to flee the communist island nation to the United States in 2007, and after being caught and returned was not only put in jail for a short time, but was also not allowed to continue attending school in Cuba.

Fernandez and his family finally succeeded in fleeing to the United States in 2008, and he enrolled at Alonso. He registered as a sophomore because he had not completed the grade.

By the FHSAA rule, though, Fernandez exhausted his eligibility last season.

Faedo said Alonso self-reported the information, and Fernandez had his case presented to the FHSAA, which ruled him ineligible by a 4-2 ruling. Alonso will appeal the state athletic organization's decision later this month.

Faedo said he was surprised with the initial decision to rule Fernandez ineligible.

"This is a communist country," the coach said. "He couldn't go to school. They would have thrown him in jail or worse, maybe stuck a bullet in his head (if he tried), who knows."

Fernandez is one of the top baseball players in the area and has helped Alonso make consecutive trips to the Class 6A state tournament, including helping the Ravens win the 6A state title in 2009. As a junior, Fernandez, a right-handed pitcher, went 10-1 with a 0.87 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 72 1/3 innings pitched. He also hit .408 and led the team with five home runs and 29 RBIs.

Faedo said Fernandez, who recently committed to the University of South Florida, is in good academic standing and set to graduate on time. He's hopeful the decision will be reversed upon appeal, but added he is preparing to play the upcoming season with one of his best players.

"I guess we'll see what happens," Faedo said.

High school player ruled ineligible
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P Prime91,000+ posts
I agree with the Florida by-law in principle. It prevents a poor student from being rewarded with extra years of high school athletic elgibility.

However, like many of the public institutions, this is just another example of "no exceptions" granted to a black and white rule. It seems Administrators would prefer not to make decisions, based upon facts, in fear of legal liability.

The loser, once again, is the athlete who in this case is only guilty of wanting to flee oppression and then upon arrival, telling the truth about academic/athletic age.
Last edited by Prime9
CADadCADad5,000+ posts
How old is he? If he's 18 then I hope they reverse it on appeal. If he's 19 then he did get an advantage due to the time off and given that he's already got a scholarship lined up missing HS baseball for a season will not be too much of a negative and possibly save his arm from overuse.

I know nothing about the coaches at the school so that's just a generic comment.
CADadCADad5,000+ posts
A little research shows that PG has him ranked as the #2 2011 HS prospect in the nation and that he's listed at 18yo, not turning 19 until after the season. I tend to be a bit suspicious about birthdates coming out of Cuba but I can't see any legitimate reason for denying him a chance to play baseball as a senior. This is a case of a kid being punished for starting HS earlier while other kids the same age or older are allowed to play.
Last edited by CADad
cheapseatscheapseats1,000+ posts
I am not familiar with the case other than reading this thread but I believe the rules are put in place for legitimate reasons and by making an exception you are opening up the issue for other "exceptions" down the road.

As others have mentioned he has other options, he can finish high school early by completing classes on-line or getting his GED and he would perhaps be eligible to play at a JUCO in the spring. It sounds like he is also draft eligible for the June 2011 draft. It sounds like the player still has plenty of outstanding baseball opportunities in his future. Bryce Harper did not compete his senior year of HS and it still worked out okay for him. Wink
Last edited by cheapseats
cheapseatscheapseats1,000+ posts
I hate to say it CADad but yes, I think the NCAA transfer rules are also there for a reason and for the most part I agree with the transfer rules and the written exceptions the NCAA has in place. Where it got confusing to me was when it "looked like" they were giving special waivers/exceptions for Cal and not following the same rules that they have in place for other institutions in similar situations. When the dust finally started to settle it looks like they are following the same rules for Cal as they are with other institutions which is good - I am just looking for consistency in the application of the rules. Smile
Last edited by cheapseats
cheapseatscheapseats1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by floridafan:
So the solution for this young man is to drop out of High School and get a GED?!

I suppose if his only goal in life is to play baseball (and it very well may be), but it seems to me we are supposed to be encouraging 17 and 18 year olds to complete their High School education not errect barriers to discourage it.


No, not suggesting he drop out, he can still finish high school with no problem, he is just not eligible to compete on the baseball team. The player and his family would need to decide which priority is most important to them.

I don't mean to minimize the disappointment the young man must be experiencing but in the grand scheme of things, it sounds like he is doing pretty well in Florida compared to the situation he was in a few years ago in Cuba. This is not the end of his baseball career rather just a bump in the road.
Last edited by cheapseats
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
JMO, the rule is the rule, 4 consecutive years and there shouldn't be special circumstances, no matter where one comes from. If they appeal and grant this, you will have everyone asking for special treatment.
If he wasn't a top prospect or someone who wasn't as insturmental in helping the team win a state championship, would they be appealing?

Too many stories of too many foreign players lying about their ages (older), the older you are the better you are against younger competition. It's really tough, with so much at stake (lotso f money for a nice draft pick) it's really difficult to know the truth. I am not saying this is the case, but you do have to wonder.

Check out Amuary Cazana, escaped Cuba in 2005, drafted in 2006 by the cardinals, rose quickly in milb until they actually discovered his real age. Actually no one knows if he is really is 35 or 4 years younger.
playfairplayfair500+ posts
This kids birthday has already been called into question. The problem is lack of documentation. There is just no way to prove any birthday.

If I were Florida I would not touch it. Let the rule stand. The kids future is bright and Florida is not harming him by not granting an exception.

They did not say he could not finish high school. They just declared him ineligible to compete in their federation. The season off is not going to hurt him.
MadDogPAMadDogPA100+ posts
Is this the kid who threw 97 for FTB/Cardinals Scout team at Jupiter?

Probably happens all over, but it is not unusual for private schools in the Philadelphia area to recruit a player when they are in 9th grade and the kid repeats the 9th grade the following year. So essentially, they are getting five years of eligibility.
Last edited by MadDogPA
cheapseatscheapseats1,000+ posts
After googling and reading a bit more about this player, I did see an article that said he was consistiently at 97 at Jupiter. Here is a quote from a Bay News 9 report, "If Fernandez is denied his senior season, he will still have a bright future ahead. Fernandez chose USF over Miami on Monday. During a recent outing in Jupiter, his fastball was clocked consistently at 97 mph. Fernandez would likely be an early round choice in next year's MLB amateur draft. "
S Strike 3100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Backstop-17:
It appears that the Florida High School Athletic Association has reconsidered its position and all Jose has to do is produce some paper work:

Ruling goes way of Alonso's Fernandez


I don't seee how the father thinks that a document that shows his son was picked up at sea can validate their claims that he didn;t attend school. I think his HS coach is adding to the drama with his claims as well.

Like TPM stated, would this be taking place if the kid were a bench warmer who sees some innings in blowouts? I think not.

I'd be very skeptical of any doucments produced.
Backstop-17Backstop-17500+ posts
The Fernandez quoted in the article is not Jose's father, he is an attorney (it stated that in the article I posted.)

I don't think it matters much if he is the best player on the team or the worst player. He is a student athlete that wants the opportunity to compete his last year of high school. Isn't that what we tout here, players that demand to get after it?

My personal opinion is that Florida has many areas rich in Cuban heritage, and Alonso High School is steeped in that heritage - and therefore the authorities should do their best in coming to a decision that is proper. Free from "I don't trust any document from Cuba" attitudes.

And for the coaches sake, he does happen to be a second generation Cuban-American. However, I think he would do this for any boy who plays for him, what coach worth his salt wouldn't stand up for a player that has stood up for his team?

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