Belen Jesuit Prep School alum Nick Martinez gets nod for Rays in Game 1 of World Series

A South Florida star will take the mound for Game 1 of the World Series for the Tampa Bay Rays. Since he was a young boy, Nick Martinez loved playing baseball. He played shortstop for the Belen Jesuit Preparatory School Wolverines through middle school and high school. He expressed to me that he was thinking about playing baseball at the next level, at college, said Willie García-Tuñón, the school s president. Though Martinez showed dedication, García-Tuñón wasn t completely certain he would make it big. I remember looking at this skinny, scrawny little kid who played shortstop, thinking to myself: Is he going to be able to make it?' said García-Tuñón. Little did he know, that scrawny shortstop would grow up to be named the Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher for Game 1 of the 2026 World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. He ll have the opportunity to set the tone for the Rays on the mound as they open the Fall Classic on the road for the first two games. It