By Bob Redman
Florida Baseball head coach Kevin O’Sullivan is used to losing several players to the Major League Baseball Draft every year both on the current squad and high school prospects that were signed or committed. That was a case this time around as well, but the team wasn’t gutted quite as much as it could have and O’Sullivan may see the highest percentage he’s had of high school prospects actually make it on campus.
It was true that three first-day MLB Draft picks for the Gators tied Florida for most nationally. O’Sullivan doesn’t have many drafts come and go without really high picks and Sterlin Thompson, who played both second base and in the outfield, was yet another first-round selection by the Colorado Rockies. He became the highest drafted outfielder in Florida history surpassing Brad Wilkerson who was drafted 33rd back in 1998. Thompson was a sophomore, but taken that high it is a no-brainer that he will sign.
Thirteen picks after Thompson was drafted, Florida’s left-handed ace and Friday night starter on the mound for most of the season Hunter Barco was selected 44th overall and in the second round by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Barco became the 13th highest drafted Gator pitcher ever.
A third Gator player was selected on day-one of the draft when four-year centerfield starter Jud Fabian was picked 67th overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Fabian becomes the fifth highest Gator outfielder ever drafted.
The last Gator selected in the draft this year was right-handed flame-throwing pitcher Brandon Sproat. Sproat went 90th overall and in the third round to the New York Mets. Sproat is a sophomore but expected to sign with the Mets.
After the draft concluded, Florida sophomore right-hander Nick Pogue signed a free agent contract with the Washington Nationals. He was likely the one that was a little surprise that he didn’t get drafted and then that he signed a free agent contract.
The Gators got great news a couple of days after the draft when sophomore shortstop Josh Rivera let folks know that he was going to return for another season. That was one that O’Sullivan wasn’t sure of one way or another heading into the draft.
Florida will likely lose only one high school prospect that was going to be in the 2022 recruiting class. That is an unusual situation as well as O’Sullivan usually loses 3-4 that get drafted highly. First-baseman Xavier Isaac from Kernersville, NC, was picked 19th overall by the Tampa Bay Rays. With a signing bonus of over two million dollars slotted for that position in the draft, that’s going to be hard to say no to.
The Gators will likely see catcher Luke Heyman (Longwood, FL), OF Yoel Tejada (Davie, FL), RHP Jake Clemente (Coral Springs, FL), LHP Cade Fisher, OF Chris Arroyo (Coral Springs, FL), RHP William Ross (Winter Garden, FL), C Salvador Alvarez (Miami, FL), OF Erik Blair (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) this fall when they enroll in school.
O’Sullivan also picked up some high level prospects through the transfer portal for next season. Southern Mississippi right-hander, Hurston Waldrep, Coastal Carolina infielder Dale Thomas and Mercer outfielder Colby Thomas all have pledged to be Gators for the 2023 season.
At Southern Miss Waldrep had a dynamite 2022 season and was named a third-team All-American by D1 Baseball. He started 17 games and finished with a 3.20 ERA, striking out 140 batters while walking just 33. Dale Thomas batted .284 with 9 RBI, 30 total extra-base hits including 13 homeruns during the 2022 collegiate season. Colby Thomas was selected 95th overall in the draft but has his eyes set on making the first round. He hit .325 with 45 RBI, and had 33 extra-base hits including 17 homeruns.
It was a sold draft for O’Sullivan in that he had a few really high picks that will catch the attention of future prospects, but allowed him to keep a great base for next season and also add some big time talent.