{"id":337853,"date":"2026-07-12T20:14:16","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T20:14:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/337853\/"},"modified":"2026-07-12T20:14:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T20:14:16","slug":"mcneillie-yost-picked-in-mlb-drafts-fifth-round","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/337853\/","title":{"rendered":"McNeillie, Yost Picked in MLB Draft\u2019s Fifth Round"},"content":{"rendered":"

GAINESVILLE, Fla. \u2013 Florida juniors Luke McNeillie<\/a> and Hayden Yost<\/a> were selected in the fifth round of the 2026 MLB Draft on Sunday afternoon, with McNeillie going to the New York Mets with the 152nd overall pick and Yost headed to the Seattle Mariners with the 162nd choice.
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\nAs the fourth and fifth Gators to come off the board at the 2026 MLB Draft, McNeillie and Yost follow teammates Liam Peterson<\/a> (Round 1, Pick 19 \u2013 Cleveland Guardians), Kyle Jones<\/a> (Round 3, Pick 102 \u2013 Milwaukee Brewers) and Russell Sandefer<\/a> (Round 4, Pick 132 \u2013 Los Angeles Dodgers).
\n\u00a0
\nRunning List of Florida’s 2026 MLB Draft Picks (5)
\nRHP Liam Peterson<\/a> \u2013 Round 1, Pick 19 (Cleveland Guardians)
\nOF Kyle Jones<\/a> \u2013 Round 3, Pick 102 (Milwaukee Brewers)
\nRHP Russell Sandefer<\/a> \u2013 Round 4, Pick 132 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
\nRHP Luke McNeillie<\/a> \u2013 Round 5, Pick 152 (New York Mets)
\nOF Hayden Yost<\/a> \u2013 Round 5, Pick 162 (Seattle Mariners)
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\nRHP Luke McNeillie<\/a> | Round 5, Pick 152 | New York Mets
\nHailing from Milton, Ga., McNeillie represents the 235th individual draft choice in team history including the 120th of the Kevin O’Sullivan era (2008-present). McNeillie is the third UF hurler chosen in the first five rounds of this year’s MLB Draft and the 26th during O’Sullivan’s 19-year tenure \u2013 which ranks third nationally. He marks the 67th pitcher selected out of Florida under O’Sullivan.
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\nThanks to McNeillie, Florida has now registered at least four draft picks in 17 of the last 18 years, only failing to do so in the abbreviated 2020 MLB Draft.
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\nLowering his ERA in each season of his three-year Gators career, McNeillie turned in a 3.97 ERA across 18 appearances (three starts) spanning 34.0 frames in his junior 2026 campaign. Turning in a 3-0 record and one save, the hard-throwing righty fanned 48 batters to 17 walks for 12.7 strikeouts per nine and a 2.82 strikeout-to-walk ratio. McNeillie surrendered less than one home run per nine innings (0.8 HR\/9) while fielding to a perfect 1.000 clip across five defensive chances on the hill.
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\nAcross three seasons in Orange & Blue from 2024-26, McNeillie pitched in 72 games \u2013 seven of which were stars. He finished his UF tenure with a 12-8 record, four saves, 5.24 ERA and 163-to-62 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 122.0 innings.
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\nWhat They’re Saying About McNeillie
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\nMLB Pipeline
\n“There was hope the 6-foot-3 McNeillie would take to a starting role at some point with the Gators, but while that hasn’t come to pass, some feel he should be given a chance to do so as a pro. His stuff is louder in shorter stints out of the bullpen, starting with a fastball that’s been 96-99 mph this year as a reliever. It can have some carry when it’s at the top of the zone\u2026 His best and most-frequently thrown pitch is his 86-88 mph slider and it flashes plus, with good downer action to it when it’s on. There is a changeup in there, but he doesn’t use it often.”
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\nBaseball America
\n“McNeillie was a projection righthander with great feel to spin the ball out of high school, where he ranked as a top-200 prospect in the 2023 class. He made it to campus at Florida where he primarily pitched out of the bullpen in his first two seasons, pitching to a 5.73 ERA in 88 innings with a 29.1% strikeout rate. McNeillie is a 6-foot-3, 190-pound righty with a quick arm who pitches with a mid-90s fastball that touches 97-98. As a reliever he has gone to high-spin, upper-80s slider as frequently as his fastball, and it has both the movement and power to profile as an easy plus pitch. McNeillie also throws a firm, upper-80s changeup\u2014but rarely.”
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\nOF Hayden Yost<\/a> | Round 5, Pick 162 | Seattle Mariners
\nTen picks after McNeillie’s name was called, Yost was nabbed by Seattle with the 162nd overall pick. The Tampa, Fla. native holds status as the 236th individual draft choice in team history including the 121st of the O’Sullivan era (2008-present).
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\nWith Yost’s selection, the Gators have produced at least five draft picks in each of the last four\u00a0years (2023, 2024, 2025, 2026), and in 15\u00a0of the last 18 MLB Drafts since 2009.
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\nFinishing his true junior campaign with a bang this past spring, Yost homered 10 times across his final 24 starts to finish with an average of 10.7 at bats per homer on the season. Playing in 42 games while making 30 starts in the UF outfield, Yost slashed .262\/.369\/.589 with career highs in OPS (.958), slugging percentage (.589) and long balls. Of his 28 hits, 15 went for extra bases (53.6%) and 10 left the yard (35.7%). He also tallied five doubles, 28 runs scored, 23 RBI, three sacrifice flies and three stolen bases while drawing nearly as many combined walks (12) and hit-by-pitches (eight) as strikeouts (21).
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\nPosting a 1.000 fielding percentage in 2026, Yost fielded at a .996 clip across 246 defensive chances in his career on top of five outfield assists. Over three years in Orange & Blue, he played in 134 games highlighted by 99 starts and batted .264\/.381\/.444 with 14 homers, 23 doubles, 77 runs and 65 RBI. Yost also swiped 21 bags in 27 attempts.
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\nFlorida’s MLB Draft History
\n\u00a0
\nPitchers Drafted in First Five Rounds Under Kevin O’Sullivan (26)
\n2026: RHP Liam Peterson<\/a> \u2013 Round 1, Pick 19 (Cleveland Guardians)
\n2026: RHP Russell Sandefer<\/a> \u2013 Round 4, Pick 132 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
\n2026: RHP Luke McNeillie<\/a> \u2013 Round 5, Pick 152 (New York Mets)
\n2024: RHP Brandon Neely \u2013 Round 3, Pick 86 (Boston Red Sox)
\n2023: RHP Brandon Sproat \u2013 Round 2, Pick 56 (New York Mets)
\n2023: RHP Hurston Waldrep \u2013 Round 1, Pick 24 (Atlanta Braves)
\n2022: LHP Hunter Barco \u2013 Round 2, Pick 44 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
\n2022: RHP Brandon Sproat \u2013 Round 3, Pick 90 (New York Mets)
\n2021: RHP Tommy Mace \u2013 Round 2, Pick 69 (Cleveland Indians)
\n2021: RHP Christian Scott \u2013 Round 5, Pick 142 (New York Mets)
\n2019: RHP Tyler Dyson \u2013 Round 5, Pick 153 (Washington Nationals)
\n2018: RHP Brady Singer \u2013 Round 1, Pick 18 (Kansas City Royals)
\n2018: RHP Jackson Kowar \u2013 Round 1, Pick 33 (Kansas City Royals)
\n2017: RHP Alex Faedo \u2013 Round 1, Pick 18 (Detroit Tigers)
\n2016: LHP A.J. Puk \u2013 Round 1, Pick 6 (Oakland Athletics)
\n2016: RHP Dane Dunning \u2013 Round 1, Pick 29 (Washington Nationals)
\n2016: RHP Logan Shore \u2013 Round 2, Pick 47 (Oakland Athletics)
\n2016: RHP Shaun Anderson \u2013 Round 3, Pick 88 (Boston Red Sox)
\n2016: LHP Scott Moss \u2013 Round 4, Pick 108 (Cincinnati Reds)
\n2013: RHP Jonathon Crawford \u2013 Round 1, Pick 20 (Detroit Tigers)
\n2012: LHP\/1B Brian Johnson \u2013 Round 1, Pick 31 (Boston Red Sox)
\n2012: LHP Steven (Paco) Rodriguez \u2013 Round 2, Pick 82 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
\n2012: RHP Austin Maddox \u2013 Round 3, Pick 118 (Boston Red Sox)
\n2011: LHP Nick Maronde \u2013 Round 3, Pick 104 (Los Angeles Angels)
\n2010: LHP Kevin Chapman \u2013 Round 4, Pick 119 (Kansas City Royals)
\n2009: RHP Billy Bullock \u2013 Round 2, Pick 70 (Minnesota Twins)
\n\u00a0
\nAll Draft Picks Under Kevin O’Sullivan (121)
\n2026: RHP Liam Peterson<\/a> \u2013 Round 1, Pick 19 (Cleveland Guardians)
\n2026: OF Kyle Jones<\/a> \u2013 Round 3, Pick 102 (Milwaukee Brewers)
\n2026: RHP Russell Sandefer<\/a> \u2013 Round 4, Pick 132 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
\n2026: RHP Luke McNeillie<\/a> \u2013 Round 5, Pick 152 (New York Mets)
\n2026: OF Hayden Yost<\/a> \u2013 Round 5, Pick 162 (Seattle Mariners)
\n2025: SS Colby Shelton<\/a> \u2013 Round 6, Pick 166 (Chicago White Sox)
\n2025: RHP Jake Clemente<\/a> \u2013 Round 7 \u2013 Pick 198 (Miami Marlins)
\n2025: LHP Pierce Coppola<\/a> \u2013 Round 7 \u2013 Pick 211 (Chicago Cubs)
\n2025: 3B Bobby Boser<\/a> \u2013 Round 11, Pick 320 (Athletics)
\n2025: C Luke Heyman<\/a> \u2013 Round 14, Pick 422 (Seattle Mariners)
\n2025: C Brody Donay<\/a> \u2013 Round 17, Pick 507 (Tampa Bay Rays)
\n2024: 1B\/LHP Jac Caglianone \u2013 Round 1, Pick 6 (Kansas City Royals)
\n2024: RHP Brandon Neely \u2013 Round 3, Pick 86 (Boston Red Sox)
\n2024: RHP Fisher Jameson \u2013 Round 10, Pick 288 (Colorado Rockies)
\n2024: RHP Ryan Slater \u2013 Round 18, Pick 538 (San Francisco Giants)
\n2024: SS Colby Shelton<\/a> \u2013 Round 20, Pick 590 (Washington Nationals)
\n2023: INF Colby Halter \u2013 Round 17, Pick 496 (Oakland Athletics)
\n2023: LHP Philip Abner \u2013 Round 6, Pick 175 (Arizona Diamondbacks)
\n2023: SS Josh Rivera \u2013 Round 3, Pick 81 (Chicago Cubs)
\n2023: RHP Brandon Sproat \u2013 Round 2, Pick 56 (New York Mets)
\n2023: RHP Hurston Waldrep \u2013 Round 1, Pick 24 (Atlanta Braves)
\n2023: OF Wyatt Langford \u2013 Round 1, Pick 4 (Texas Rangers)
\n2023: OF Wyatt Langford \u2013 Round 1, Pick 4 (Texas Rangers)
\n2022: OF Sterlin Thompson \u2013 Round 1, Pick 31 (Colorado Rockies)
\n2022: LHP Hunter Barco \u2013 Round 2, Pick 44 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
\n2022: OF Jud Fabian \u2013 Round 2, Pick 67 (Baltimore Orioles)
\n2022: RHP Brandon Sproat \u2013 Round 3, Pick 90 (New York Mets)
\n2021: OF\u00a0Jud Fabian\u00a0\u2013 Round 2, Pick 40 (Boston Red Sox)
\n2021: RHP\u00a0Tommy Mace\u00a0\u2013 Round 2, Pick 69 (Cleveland Indians)
\n2021: C\u00a0Nathan Hickey\u00a0\u2013 Round 5, Pick 136 (Boston Red Sox)
\n2021: RHP\u00a0Christian Scott\u00a0\u2013 Round 5, Pick 142 (New York Mets)
\n2021:\u00a0OF\u00a0Jacob Young\u00a0\u2013 Round 7, Pick 203 (Washington Nationals)
\n2021: RHP\u00a0Jack Leftwich\u00a0\u2013 Round 7, Pick 216 (Cleveland Indians)
\n2021: RHP\u00a0Franco Aleman\u00a0\u2013 Round 10, Pick 306 (Cleveland Indians)
\n2019: SS Brady McConnell \u2013 Round 2, Pick 44 (Kansas City Royals)
\n2019: RHP Tyler Dyson \u2013 Round 5, Pick 153 (Washington Nationals)
\n2019: OF Wil Dalton \u2013 Round 8, Pick 257 (Boston Red Sox)
\n2019: OF Nelson Maldonado \u2013 Round 21, Pick 642 (Chicago Cubs)
\n2018: 3B Jonathan India \u2013 Round 1, Pick 5 (Cincinnati Reds)
\n2018: RHP Brady Singer \u2013 Round 1, Pick 18 (Kansas City Royals)
\n2018: RHP Jackson Kowar \u2013 Round 1, Pick 33 (Kansas City Royals)
\n2018: C JJ Schwarz \u2013 Round 8, Pick 233 (Oakland Athletics)
\n2018: SS Deacon Liput \u2013 Round 10, Pick 314 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
\n2018: RHP Michael Byrne \u2013 Round 14, Pick 409 (Cincinnati Reds)
\n2018: OF\/LHP Nick Horvath \u2013 Round 25, Pick 745 (Baltimore Orioles)
\n2017: RHP Alex Faedo \u2013 Round 1, Pick 18 (Detroit Tigers)
\n2017: SS Dalton Guthrie \u2013 Round 6, Pick 173 (Philadelphia Phillies)
\n2017: C Mike Rivera \u2013 Round 6, Pick 192 (Cleveland Indians)
\n2017: C Mark Kolozsvary \u2013 Round 7, Pick 197 (Cincinnati Reds)
\n2017: RHP David Lee \u2013 Round 27, Pick 808 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
\n2017: RHP Frank Rubio \u2013 Round 29, Pick 876 (San Francisco Giants)
\n2017: 2B Deacon Liput \u2013 Round 29, Pick 880 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
\n2017: C JJ Schwarz \u2013 Round 38, Pick 1129 (Tampa Bay Rays)
\n2016: LHP A.J. Puk \u2013 Round 1, Pick 6 (Oakland Athletics)
\n2016: RHP Dane Dunning \u2013 Round 1, Pick 29 (Washington Nationals)
\n2016: RHP Logan Shore \u2013 Round 2, Pick 47 (Oakland Athletics)
\n2016: OF Buddy Reed \u2013 Round 2, Pick 48 (San Diego Padres)
\n2016: 1B Pete Alonso \u2013 Round 2, Pick 64 (New York Mets)
\n2016: RHP Shaun Anderson \u2013 Round 3, Pick 88 (Boston Red Sox)
\n2016: LHP Scott Moss \u2013 Round 4, Pick 108 (Cincinnati Reds)
\n2016: LHP Kirby Snead \u2013 Round 10, Pick 312 (Toronto Blue Jays)
\n2015: SS Richie Martin \u2013 Round 1, Pick 20 (Oakland Athletics)
\n2015: OF Harrison Bader \u2013 Round 3, Pick 100 (St. Louis Cardinals)
\n2015: RHP Eric Hanhold \u2013 Round 6, Pick 181 (Milwaukee Brewers)
\n2015: LHP Danny Young \u2013 Round 8, Pick 242 (Toronto Blue Jays)
\n2015: RHP Taylor Lewis \u2013 Round 9, Pick 270 (Atlanta Braves)
\n2015: 3B Josh Tobias \u2013 Round 10, Pick 294 (Philadelphia Phillies)
\n2015: LHP Bobby Poyner \u2013 Round 14, Pick 411 (Boston Red Sox)
\n2015: RHP Mike Vinson \u2013 Round 24, Pick 730 (Detroit Tigers)
\n2015: RHP Aaron Rhodes \u2013 Round 28, Pick 855 (Los Angeles Angels)
\n2014: C Taylor Gushue \u2013 Round 4, Pick 131 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
\n2014: RHP Justin Shafer \u2013 Round 8, Pick 234 (Toronto Blue Jays)
\n2014: RHP Karsten Whitson \u2013 Round 11, Pick 344 (Boston Red Sox)
\n2014: 2B Casey Turgeon \u2013 Round 24, Pick 735 (St. Louis Cardinals)
\n2014: RHP Ryan Harris \u2013 Round 26, Pick 794 (Boston Red Sox)
\n2014: RHP Keenan Kish \u2013 Round 34, Pick 1025 (Cincinnati Reds)
\n2013: RHP Jonathon Crawford \u2013 Round 1, Pick 20 (Detroit Tigers)
\n2013: LHP Daniel Gibson \u2013 Round 7, Pick 210 (Arizona Diamondbacks)
\n2013: OF Taylor Ratliff \u2013 Round 13, Pick 390 (Arizona Diamondbacks)
\n2013: RHP Johnny Magliozzi \u2013 Round 17, Pick 506 (New York Mets)
\n2013: SS Cody Dent \u2013 Round 22, Pick 676 (Washington Nationals)
\n2013: OF Jeff Driskel \u2013 Round 29, Pick 863 (Boston Red Sox)
\n2013: RHP Karsten Whitson \u2013 Round 37, Pick 1126 (Washington Nationals)
\n2012: C Mike Zunino \u2013 Round 1, Pick 3 (Seattle Mariners)
\n2012: LHP\/1B Brian Johnson \u2013 Round 1, Pick 31 (Boston Red Sox)
\n2012: SS Nolan Fontana \u2013 Round 2, Pick 61 (Houston Astros)
\n2012: LHP Steven (Paco) Rodriguez \u2013 Round 2, Pick 82 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
\n2012: RHP Austin Maddox \u2013 Round 3, Pick 118 (Boston Red Sox)
\n2012: OF Preston Tucker \u2013 Round 7, Pick 219 (Houston Astros)
\n2012: RHP Hudson Randall \u2013 Round 7, Pick 244 (Detroit Tigers)
\n2012: OF Daniel Pigott \u2013 Round 9, Pick 292 (Cincinnati Reds)
\n2012: RHP Greg Larson \u2013 Round 20, Pick 631 (Boston Red Sox)
\n2011: LHP Nick Maronde \u2013 Round 3, Pick 104 (Los Angeles Angels)
\n2011: RHP Anthony DeSclafani \u2013 Round 6, Pick 199 (Toronto Blue Jays)
\n2011: RHP Alex Panteliodis \u2013 Round 9, Pick 282 (New York Mets)
\n2011: RHP Tommy Toledo \u2013 Round 11, Pick 341 (Milwaukee Brewers)
\n2011: 2B Josh Adams \u2013 Round 13, Pick 403 (Florida Marlins)
\n2011: 1B\/OF Preston Tucker \u2013 Round 16, Pick 498 (Colorado Rockies)
\n2011: C Ben McMahan \u2013 Round 23, Pick 701 (Milwaukee Brewers)
\n2011: RHP Matt Campbell \u2013 Round 24, Pick 751 (Philadelphia Phillies)
\n2011: RHP Greg Larson \u2013 Round 29, Pick 885 (Los Angeles Angels)
\n2011: OF Bryson Smith \u2013 Round 34, Pick 1045 (Cincinnati Reds)
\n2011: OF Tyler Thompson \u2013 Round 46, Pick 1387 (Washington Nationals)
\n2010: LHP Kevin Chapman \u2013 Round 4, Pick 119 (Kansas City Royals)
\n2010: OF Matt den Dekker \u2013 Round 5, Pick 152 (New York Mets)
\n2010: RHP Tommy Toledo \u2013 Round 32, Pick 975 (Minnesota Twins)
\n2010: C Hampton Tignor \u2013 Round 36, Pick 1104 (Los Angeles Angels)
\n2010: RHP Justin Poovey \u2013 Round 41, Pick 1254 (Los Angeles Angels)
\n2010: RHP Matt Campbell \u2013 Round 43, Pick 1297 (Cincinnati Reds)
\n2009: RHP Billy Bullock \u2013 Round 2, Pick 70 (Minnesota Twins)
\n2009: OF Avery Barnes \u2013 Round 11, Pick 331 (Colorado Rockies)
\n2009: LHP Tony Davis \u2013 Round 12, Pick 372 (Minnesota Twins)
\n2009: OF Matt den Dekker \u2013 Round 16, Pick 475 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
\n2009: RHP Patrick Keating \u2013 Round 20, Pick 602 (Kansas City Royals)
\n2009: C Buddy Munroe \u2013 Round 22, Pick 672 (Minnesota Twins)
\n2009: LHP Stephen Locke \u2013 Round 22, Pick 681 (Los Angeles Angels)
\n2009: SS Mike Mooney \u2013 Round 23, Pick 686 (Baltimore Orioles)
\n2009: OF Riley Cooper \u2013 Round 25, Pick 754 (Texas Rangers)
\n2009: LHP Kevin Chapman \u2013 Round 50, Pick 1513 (Chicago White Sox)
\n2008: SS Cole Figueroa \u2013 Round 6, Pick 195 (San Diego Padres)
\n2008: OF Avery Barnes \u2013 Round 40, Pick 1201 (Washington Nationals)
\n2008: RHP Josh Edmondson \u2013 Round 41, Pick 1249 (Los Angeles Angels)<\/p>\n

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