{"id":852925,"date":"2026-08-12T19:44:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T19:44:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/852925\/"},"modified":"2026-08-12T19:44:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T19:44:14","slug":"mlb-university-gauging-floridas-big-league-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/852925\/","title":{"rendered":"MLB University: Gauging Florida\u2019s Big-League Success"},"content":{"rendered":"

GAINESVILLE, Fla. \u2013 When Sterlin Thompson stepped on the Coors Field grass in Denver for his big-league debut with the Colorado Rockies against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 16, he became the 91st Florida Gator to play in Major League Baseball.
\n\u00a0
\nMore importantly, Thompson (UF 2021-22) signified Florida’s nation-leading 43rd MLB debut since 2008 \u2013 six more than any other NCAA program. Ever since Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan took the reins of the UF baseball program 19 years ago, the Gators have established themselves as the sport’s No. 1 producer of MLB talent.
\n\u00a0
\nDuring the 2025 season alone, Florida paced all of college baseball with 17 MLB players as four Gators made their debuts in Jac Caglianone (UF 2022-24), Brandon Sproat (UF 2020-23), Philip Abner (UF 2022-23) and Hunter Barco (UF 2020-22). The former three players joined Wyatt Langford (UF 2021-23) and Hurston Waldrep (UF 2023) as members of the 2023 National Runner-Up squad to reach the big leagues, giving the Gators a nation-high five MLB players and three pitchers from the 2023 roster.
\n\u00a0
\nAs a result, Florida has developed 22 MLB pitchers and 21 position players since 2008. While both those totals sit second nationally, the Gators are the lone program to send 20-plus pitchers and position players to the MLB in that span. No other college team has even produced 18 or more of each.
\n\u00a0
\nWith Thompson and Franco Aleman (UF 2021) making their MLB debuts in 2026, at least one Gator has debuted in The Show every year dating back to 2017 for a streak of 10-consecutive seasons. But the story does not end with their debuts, as MLB Gators have been performing at an elite clip at baseball’s highest level. Florida’s nation-best 17 MLB players combined for 18.2 wins above replacement (WAR) last season, led by Langford (5.4), Harrison Bader (4.3, UF 2013-15), Pete Alonso (3.5, UF 2014-16) and Brady Singer (3.3, UF 2016-18).<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \n<\/p>\n

\"MLB
\n
\n\u00a0
\nTaking a look at the current 2026 MLB campaign, three Gator sluggers enter mid-August with an OPS+ above 125 \u2013 indicating they are more than 25% better than the league-average hitter: Alonso (133), Caglianone (128) and Langford (126). That UF trio has been worth a combined 8.5 WAR headlined by Alonso at 3.2 and Caglianone at 2.9.
\n\u00a0
\nAs Florida’s top-two leaders in WAR this season, Alonso (26) and Caglianone (21) have teamed up for 47 home runs. They also have six Home Run Derby appearances between the two of them, as Caglianone participated for the first time in 2026 while Alonso, a two-time champion (2019, 2021), competed on five occasions from 2019-24.
\n\u00a0
\nHolding status as a five-time MLB All Star, Alonso was selected to the Midsummer Classic in 2019 and again across four-straight seasons from 2022-25. In fact, Florida generated an MLB All-Star over six-consecutive All-Star Games from 2019-25, as Mike Zunino (UF 2010-12) homered at the 2021 All-Star Game<\/a> in Colorado en route to a career-high 34 home runs that season.
\n\u00a0
\nA complete list of Florida’s all-time MLB players and current Gators competing in affiliated professional baseball can be found\u00a0here<\/a>.
\n\u00a0
\nMLB University \u2013 By the Numbers<\/p>\n


\n\t91 MLB Players All-Time
\n\t43 MLB Debuts Since 2008 (1st in NCAA)
\n\t
\n\t\t6 more than any other program (Arizona & LSU: 37)
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t22 MLB Pitchers Since 2008 (2nd in NCAA)
\n\t21 MLB Position Players Since 2008 (2nd in NCAA)
\n\t20+ MLB Pitchers, 20+ MLB Position Players Since 2008
\n\t
\n\t\tUnparalleled Balance: no other NCAA program has 18+ of each\u00a0\u00a0
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t17 MLB Players During 2025 Season (1st in NCAA)
\n\t5 MLB Players from 2023 UF Roster (1st in NCAA)
\n\t3 MLB Pitchers from 2023 UF Roster (1st in NCAA) <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tAll-Time Florida Gators to Play in MLB (91)
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tCount
\n\t\t\tPlayer
\n\t\t\tUF Letterman
\n\t\t\tMLB Debut Date
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t1
\n\t\t\tLance Richbourg
\n\t\t\t1919 – 1919
\n\t\t\t7\/4\/1921
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2
\n\t\t\tNed Porter
\n\t\t\t1924 – 1926
\n\t\t\t8\/7\/1926
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t3
\n\t\t\tJohnny Burnett
\n\t\t\t1926 – 1926
\n\t\t\t5\/7\/1927
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t4
\n\t\t\tHank Boney
\n\t\t\t1926 – 1927
\n\t\t\t6\/28\/1927
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t5
\n\t\t\tTiny Chaplin
\n\t\t\t1925 – 1927
\n\t\t\t4\/13\/1928
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t6
\n\t\t\tRuss Scarritt
\n\t\t\t1922 – 1928
\n\t\t\t4\/18\/1929
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t7
\n\t\t\tBill Ferrazzi
\n\t\t\t1933 – 1935
\n\t\t\t9\/7\/1935
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t8
\n\t\t\tLefty Guise
\n\t\t\t1930 – 1930
\n\t\t\t9\/3\/1940
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t9
\n\t\t\tBill Ramsey
\n\t\t\t1939 – 1940
\n\t\t\t4\/19\/1945
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t10
\n\t\t\tAl Rosen
\n\t\t\t1942 – 1942
\n\t\t\t9\/10\/1947
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t11
\n\t\t\tHaywood Sullivan
\n\t\t\t1950 – 1952
\n\t\t\t9\/20\/1955
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t12
\n\t\t\tCasey Wise
\n\t\t\t1952 – 1953
\n\t\t\t4\/16\/1957
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t13
\n\t\t\tNick Testa
\n\t\t\t1946 – 1946
\n\t\t\t4\/23\/1958
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t14
\n\t\t\tDale Willis
\n\t\t\t1955 – 1956
\n\t\t\t4\/14\/1963
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t15
\n\t\t\tDennis Aust
\n\t\t\t1960 – 1961
\n\t\t\t9\/6\/1965
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t16
\n\t\t\tBill Graham
\n\t\t\t1955 – 1956
\n\t\t\t10\/2\/1966
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t17
\n\t\t\tRoss Baumgarten
\n\t\t\t1977 – 1977
\n\t\t\t8\/16\/1978
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t18
\n\t\t\tDoug Corbett
\n\t\t\t1971 – 1974
\n\t\t\t4\/10\/1980
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t19
\n\t\t\tRoger Holt
\n\t\t\t1975 – 1977
\n\t\t\t10\/4\/1980
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t20
\n\t\t\tMarc Sullivan
\n\t\t\t1977 – 1979
\n\t\t\t10\/1\/1982
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t21
\n\t\t\tRandy O’Neal
\n\t\t\t1981 – 1981
\n\t\t\t9\/12\/1984
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t22
\n\t\t\tSteve Lombardozzi
\n\t\t\t1980 – 1981
\n\t\t\t7\/12\/1985
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t23
\n\t\t\tRob Murphy
\n\t\t\t1979 – 1980
\n\t\t\t9\/13\/1985
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t24
\n\t\t\tRobby Thompson
\n\t\t\t1983 – 1983
\n\t\t\t4\/8\/1986
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t25
\n\t\t\tMike Stanley
\n\t\t\t1982 – 1985
\n\t\t\t6\/24\/1986
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t26
\n\t\t\tJeff Fischer
\n\t\t\t1984 – 1985
\n\t\t\t6\/19\/1987
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t27
\n\t\t\tScott Lusader
\n\t\t\t1984 – 1985
\n\t\t\t9\/1\/1987
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t28
\n\t\t\tSteve Rosenberg
\n\t\t\t1985 – 1986
\n\t\t\t6\/4\/1988
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t29
\n\t\t\tDave Eiland
\n\t\t\t1985 – 1985
\n\t\t\t8\/3\/1988
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t30
\n\t\t\tScott Ruskin
\n\t\t\t1982 – 1985
\n\t\t\t4\/9\/1990
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t31
\n\t\t\tJavier Ortiz
\n\t\t\t1982 – 1982
\n\t\t\t6\/15\/1990
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t32
\n\t\t\tRod Brewer
\n\t\t\t1985 – 1987
\n\t\t\t9\/5\/1990
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t33
\n\t\t\tMike Perez
\n\t\t\t1985 – 1985
\n\t\t\t9\/5\/1990
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t34
\n\t\t\tHerb Perry
\n\t\t\t1988 – 1991
\n\t\t\t5\/3\/1994
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t35
\n\t\t\tJamie McAndrew
\n\t\t\t1987 – 1989
\n\t\t\t7\/17\/1995
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t36
\n\t\t\tMarc Valdes
\n\t\t\t1991 – 1993
\n\t\t\t8\/28\/1995
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t37
\n\t\t\tJohn Burke
\n\t\t\t1990 – 1992
\n\t\t\t8\/13\/1996
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t38
\n\t\t\tKevin Polcovich
\n\t\t\t1991 – 1992
\n\t\t\t5\/17\/1997
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t39
\n\t\t\tRobert Dodd
\n\t\t\t1994 – 1994
\n\t\t\t5\/28\/1998
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t40
\n\t\t\tPaul Rigdon
\n\t\t\t1996 – 1996
\n\t\t\t5\/21\/2000
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t41
\n\t\t\tChan Perry
\n\t\t\t1993 – 1994
\n\t\t\t8\/5\/2000
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t42
\n\t\t\tDavid Eckstein
\n\t\t\t1994 – 1997
\n\t\t\t4\/3\/2001
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t43
\n\t\t\tBrad Wilkerson
\n\t\t\t1996 – 1998
\n\t\t\t7\/12\/2001
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t44
\n\t\t\tJosh Fogg
\n\t\t\t1996 – 1998
\n\t\t\t9\/2\/2001
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t45
\n\t\t\tMark Ellis
\n\t\t\t1996 – 1999
\n\t\t\t4\/9\/2002
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t46
\n\t\t\tDavid Ross
\n\t\t\t1998 – 1998
\n\t\t\t6\/29\/2002
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t47
\n\t\t\tTim Olson
\n\t\t\t2000 – 2000
\n\t\t\t5\/30\/2004
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t48
\n\t\t\tRyan Shealy
\n\t\t\t2000 – 2002
\n\t\t\t6\/14\/2005
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t49
\n\t\t\tDarren O’Day
\n\t\t\t2003 – 2006
\n\t\t\t3\/31\/2008
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t50
\n\t\t\tMatt LaPorta
\n\t\t\t2004 – 2007
\n\t\t\t5\/3\/2009
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t51
\n\t\t\tBryan Augenstein
\n\t\t\t2005 – 2007
\n\t\t\t5\/13\/2009
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t52
\n\t\t\tRyan Sadowski
\n\t\t\t2001 – 2003
\n\t\t\t6\/28\/2009
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t53
\n\t\t\tNick Maronde
\n\t\t\t2009 – 2011
\n\t\t\t9\/2\/2012
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t54
\n\t\t\tPaco Rodriguez
\n\t\t\t2011 – 2012
\n\t\t\t9\/9\/2012
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t55
\n\t\t\tMike Zunino
\n\t\t\t2010 – 2012
\n\t\t\t6\/12\/2013
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t56
\n\t\t\tKevin Chapman
\n\t\t\t2007 – 2010
\n\t\t\t8\/9\/2013
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t57
\n\t\t\tMatt den Dekker
\n\t\t\t2007 – 2010
\n\t\t\t8\/29\/2013
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t58
\n\t\t\tAnthony DeSclafani
\n\t\t\t2009 – 2011
\n\t\t\t5\/14\/2014
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t59
\n\t\t\tCole Figueroa
\n\t\t\t2007 – 2008
\n\t\t\t5\/16\/2014
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t60
\n\t\t\tPreston Tucker
\n\t\t\t2009 – 2012
\n\t\t\t5\/7\/2015
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t61
\n\t\t\tBrian Johnson
\n\t\t\t2010 – 2012
\n\t\t\t7\/21\/2015
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t62
\n\t\t\tNolan Fontana
\n\t\t\t2010 – 2012
\n\t\t\t5\/22\/2017
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t63
\n\t\t\tAustin Maddox
\n\t\t\t2011 – 2012
\n\t\t\t6\/17\/2017
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t64
\n\t\t\tHarrison Bader
\n\t\t\t2013 – 2015
\n\t\t\t7\/25\/2017
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t65
\n\t\t\tBobby Poyner
\n\t\t\t2012 – 2014
\n\t\t\t3\/31\/2018
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t66
\n\t\t\tJustin Shafer
\n\t\t\t2012 – 2014
\n\t\t\t8\/19\/2018
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t67
\n\t\t\tEric Hanhold
\n\t\t\t2013 – 2015
\n\t\t\t9\/4\/2018
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t68
\n\t\t\tPete Alonso
\n\t\t\t2014 – 2016
\n\t\t\t3\/28\/2019
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t69
\n\t\t\tRichie Martin
\n\t\t\t2013 – 2015
\n\t\t\t3\/28\/2019
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t70
\n\t\t\tShaun Anderson
\n\t\t\t2014 – 2016
\n\t\t\t5\/15\/2019
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t71
\n\t\t\tA.J. Puk
\n\t\t\t2014 – 2016
\n\t\t\t8\/21\/2019
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t72
\n\t\t\tBrady Singer
\n\t\t\t2016 – 2018
\n\t\t\t7\/25\/2020
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t73
\n\t\t\tDane Dunning
\n\t\t\t2014 – 2016
\n\t\t\t8\/19\/2020
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t74
\n\t\t\tJonathan India
\n\t\t\t2016 – 2018
\n\t\t\t4\/1\/2021
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t75
\n\t\t\tJackson Kowar
\n\t\t\t2016 – 2018
\n\t\t\t4\/7\/2021
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t76
\n\t\t\tTaylor Gushue
\n\t\t\t2012 – 2014
\n\t\t\t6\/30\/2021
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t77
\n\t\t\tKirby Snead
\n\t\t\t2014 – 2016
\n\t\t\t7\/28\/2021
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t78
\n\t\t\tMark Kolozsvary
\n\t\t\t2015 – 2017
\n\t\t\t4\/20\/2022
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t79
\n\t\t\tAlex Faedo
\n\t\t\t2015 – 2017
\n\t\t\t5\/4\/2022
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t80
\n\t\t\tDanny Young
\n\t\t\t2013 – 2015
\n\t\t\t5\/9\/2022
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t81
\n\t\t\tDalton Guthrie
\n\t\t\t2015 – 2017
\n\t\t\t9\/5\/2022
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t82
\n\t\t\tJacob Young
\n\t\t\t2019 – 2021
\n\t\t\t8\/26\/2023
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t83
\n\t\t\tWyatt Langford
\n\t\t\t2021 – 2023
\n\t\t\t3\/28\/2024
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t84
\n\t\t\tChristian Scott
\n\t\t\t2019 – 2021
\n\t\t\t5\/4\/2024
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t85
\n\t\t\tHurston Waldrep
\n\t\t\t2023
\n\t\t\t6\/9\/2024
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t86
\n\t\t\tJac Caglianone
\n\t\t\t2022 – 2024
\n\t\t\t6\/3\/2025
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t87
\n\t\t\tBrandon Sproat
\n\t\t\t2020 – 2023
\n\t\t\t9\/7\/2025
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t88
\n\t\t\tPhilip Abner
\n\t\t\t2022 – 2023
\n\t\t\t9\/19\/2025
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t89
\n\t\t\tHunter Barco
\n\t\t\t2020 – 2022
\n\t\t\t9\/23\/2025
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t90
\n\t\t\tFranco Aleman
\n\t\t\t2021
\n\t\t\t5\/10\/2026
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t91
\n\t\t\tSterlin Thompson
\n\t\t\t2021-22
\n\t\t\t5\/16\/2026
\n\t\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

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