Swampcast breaks down Florida football recruiting, Florida basketball offseason
The Sun’s Kevin Brockway, Andrew Abadie and Noah Ram discuss UF basketball’s offseason moves
In 19 seasons under coach Kevin O’Sullivan, Florida baseball has been consistent in developing players who have reached the Major League level.
During O’Sullivan’s tenure, Florida has produced a nation-leading 41 MLB debuts since 2008, 116 draft picks, and 14 first-round selections.
Currently, there are 12 former Florida Gators on MLB rosters, including some impact arms and bats. Five are currently on the IL but should return at some point during the 2026 season.
A handful of other former Florida baseball players who could make their MLB debuts this season, including outfielder Sterlin Thompson, who is with the Colorado Rockies Triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque, New Mexico and third baseman Colby Halter, who is with the Athletics Double A affiliate in Midland, Texas.
Last season, Florida’s 17 former players to appear in MLB marked the most by any NCAA program. Overall, 89 former Gators have appeared in MLB, including 2006 World Series MVP David Eckstein (shortstop, St. Louis Cardinals) and 1953 AL MVP Al Rosen (third baseman, Cleveland).
Here’s a breakdown of how former Florida baseball players are performing in MLB this season:
Jac Caglianone, Kansas City Royals, OF-IF
Caglianone, a former two-way UF star who led the Gators to back-to-back College World Series trips in 2023-24, has cemented the starting job in right field for the Royals and is batting .245 with 4 home runs and 8 RBIs.
The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Caglianone has appeared in 95 career games and 88 career starts with the Royals at right field, first base and designated hitter.
Wyatt Langford, Texas Rangers, OF
Langford, who played at Florida from 2021-23, started the season batting .238 with 1 home run and 4 RBIs before landing on the Injured List on April 20 with a forearm strain.
In three seasons with the Rangers, Langford has posted a .246 career average with 39 home runs and 140 career RBIs.
Pete Alonso, Baltimore Orioles, IF
Alonso, who played at UF from 2014-16, is batting .225 with 7 home runs and 20 RBIs in first season with the Orioles.
The 31-year-old Alonso signed with the Orioles as a free agent after playing his first seven seasons with the New York Mets. He’s socked 271 career home runs with 732 career RBIs.
Jonathan India, Kansas City Royals, IF
India, who played at UF from 2016-18, was batting .167 with 2 home runs and 8 RBIs as the starting second baseman for the Royals before undergoing season-ending surgery on April 30 to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
In six seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and Royals, India has posted a .247 career average with 74 home runs and 282 career RBIs.
Harrison Bader, San Francisco Giants, OF
In 11 games with the Giants, Bader is batting .115 with 1 home run and 3 RBIs. He’s been on the IL since April 10 with a hamstring strain and is currently on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento.
Bader, who played at UF from 2013-15, has posted a .245 career average with 89 home runs, 325 RBIs and 105 steals in 10 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants.
Brady Singer, Cincinnati Reds, P
Singer, who pitched at Florida from 2016-18, is 2-2 with a 5.63 ERA. In eight starts and 38 1/3 innings pitched, Singer has struck out 26 and walked 10.
In seven seasons with the Kansas City Royals and Cincinnati Reds, Singer has posed a 52-58 career record and 4.29 ERA.
Brandon Sproat, Milwaukee Brewers, P
Sproat, who helped pitch UF to a CWS trip in 2023, is 0-2 with a 5.87 ERA in his first season with the Milwaukee Brewers. In 30 2/3 innings ptched, Sproat has walked 18 batters and struck out 30.
The New York Mets traded Sproat to the Brewers during the offseason. In two seasons with the Mets and Brewers, Sproat is 0-4 with a 5.44 ERA
Christian Scott, New York Mets, P
Scott, who pitched at Florida from 2019-21, returned to the majors in 2026 after sitting out the entire 2025 season following Tommy John surgery to repair a torn UCL in his pitching elbow.
In two starts this season, Scott is 0-0 with a 4.26 ERA. He’s struck out nine batters in 6 1/3 innings pitched.
In 11 career starts, Scott is 0-3 with a 4.53 ERA, with 48 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings pitched.
Jacob Young, Washington Nationals, OF
Young, who played at UF from 2019-21, is batting .231 on the season with 2 home runs, 15 RBIs and 1 stolen base.
In four seasons with the Nationals, Young has posted a .245 career average with 7 homers, 94 RBIs and 62 stolen bases.
Danny Young, Atlanta Braves, P
Young, who played at UF from 2013-15, was moved to the 60-day IL as the lefty continues to recover from Tommy John surgery.
In four career seasons with the Seattle Mariners, Braves and New York Mets, Young has posted a 4-1 career record and 4.01 ERA.
AJ Puk, Arizona Diamondbacks, P
Puk, who played at UF from 2014-16, is on the 60-day IL after undergoing offseason elbow surgery and is expected to return in mid-June.
Puk has posted a 17-20 career record and 3.38 ERA over seven seasons with the Athletics, Miami Marlins and Arizona Diamondbacks, with 26 career saves.
Hurston Waldrep, Atlanta Braves, P
Waldrep, who helped pitch UF to a CWS appearance in 2023, is on the IL after undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies in his pitching elbow. He’s expected to return in mid-June.
In two seasons with the Braves, Waldrep has posted a 6-2 career record and 4.41 ERA.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.
