He played first base from 1998 to 2009, most prominently as a member of the Minnesota Twins where he was a Gold Glove Award winner. Doug is one of six players to win both an Olympic gold medal and a World Series championship.

How lucky is Islamorada to have Doug as a local resident! Doug has helped coach the high school baseball team here for about seven years. Ask any of the baseball players at Coral Shores. Doug has shown the student athletes a path to success - the value of hard work, dedication, and perseverance.

At the Tuesday Council meeting, Mientkiewicz expressed his thoughts about the merits of the baseball field upgrades planned for Founders Park - as both a taxpayer and a coach.  He questioned where the energy and concern has been for all the years when the field has been subpar.  

He probably remembers when he played for Westminster Christian and traveled to Islamorada to play ball when high school baseball and football shared space here at the school campus. But times have changed. Coral Shores now has so many new sports… lacrosse, soccer, tennis… and a new bigger school on the same property where space is certainly at a premium.  

As Doug pointed out, the other Keys schools have vastly better ball fields. “It’s time for the kids in the Upper Keys to have quality facilities.  This is a critical step - upgrading the baseball field.  The momentum will build from here. Sports opens doors for kids and they deserve that.”

A special call Council meeting is scheduled for Jul 27 with hopes that the Jul 21 sit down with the School Board succeeds and a Baseball License Agreement can be finalized.