Former Marlin Gonzalez settles in at Sagemont

The Marlins in 1999 finished in last place and lost 98 games, but that young team has now produced two Broward County high school baseball coaches.

Alex Gonzalez, who was a 22-year-old shortstop that season and nearly the National League Rookie of the Year, was named Sagemont’s head coach in October. He joins Bruce Aven — who has been American Heritage’s coach since

2012 —as ex-Marlins running Broward baseball programs.

Gonzalez, now 43, spent the past three seasons as a Sagemont assistant, and his ultimate goal is to coach in minor-league baseball and then the majors.

“I don’t need to

[coach],” said Gonzalez, who spent 16 years in the majors, making it to the All-Star Game in ’99 and then winning a World Series in 2003. “I do it because I like it.

“What I’m teaching my players, maybe they’ve never seen before. I [train] them at a professional level.”

Gonzalez replaces Armando Sierra, who left to serve as Bradenton Southeast’s head coach.

Sierra convinced Gonzalez — who had two sons on the team at the time — to help him out as an assistant from 2018 to 2020. Sagemont went 37-23-1 during that span.

“The Sagemont program is in good hands with

Alex,” Sierra said. “He brings serenity and, in tight games, the players need that calmness.

“He teaches the kids to respect the game. If you make the fundamental play, you’re halfway there.”

Gonzalez served as Sierra’s third-base coach and was in charge of the infield, making all the calls on how to handle bunts and other offensive plays that involved his positions.

Gonzalez will continue to coach third base because he believes keeping sharp in that skill is what’s best for his prospects of landing a job in minor-league baseball.

Aven, 48, who was the Marlins’ fourth outfielder in 1999 behind Cliff Floyd, Preston Wilson and Mark Kotsay, said Gonzalez was a phenomenal talent who has a lot of wisdom to impart to his players.

“Alex had a lot of tools — great arm, great glove, power. I remember seeing him smash one into the upper deck at Pro Player Stadium,” Aven said of Gonzalez, who hit 28 doubles, eight triples and 14 homers in his rookie year.