Key West High School Baseball Coach Ralph Henriquez is already a living legend on the island’s diamonds.
And on Oct. 26, Henriquez became one of the first people inducted into the High School Baseball Network South Florida Hall of Fame. The class of 2023 numbered 23 of “the best and most influential coaches who have ever stepped foot in South Florida dugouts,” the HSBN said.
With 550 wins, Henriquez was honored with 22 other coaches from the region at a ceremony at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale.
“Our baseball program in Key West is really special,” Henriquez said during his acceptance speech. “Key West has embraced Key West High School baseball. It’s been a blessing.”
During his introduction to the podium, Henriquez was lauded for a 30-year baseball coaching career that included working for the Atlanta Braves before returning to KWHS in 2014.
Since then, he became the winningest coach in the school’s history, with 373 wins at KWHS, and presided over a program known nationally for its tremendous competition. More than 100 of Henriquez’s players have won college scholarships and more than 10 have gone on to the major leagues.
Henriquez said along with his coaching career successes, he is also proud of having helped develop a chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at KWHS.
“Coaching baseball down here in South Florida has been one of the best experiences of my life,” Henriquez told HSBN. “Looking down the list of coaches that are being inducted, I see a lot of familiar names, coaches who I have developed friendships with through the years. I am humbled and honored to be one of the members of the first HSBN Hall of Fame class.”
