In 19 seasons under coach Kevin O’Sullivan, the Florida Gators have been consistent in developing players who have reached the Major League level.
During O’Sullivan’s tenure, Florida baseball has produced a nation-leading 43 MLB debuts since 2008, 116 draft picks, and 14 first-round selections.
There are 14 former UF players on MLB rosters, including some impact arms and bats. Six are currently on the IL but should return at some point during the 2026 season.
Last season, Florida’s 17 former players to appear in MLB marked the most by any NCAA program. Overall, 91 former Gators have appeared in MLB, including 2006 World Series MVP David Eckstein (shortstop, St. Louis Cardinals).
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 .243 with 6 home runs and 14 RBIs.
In a recent three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds from June 1-3, Caglianone went 4-for-11 with 1 home run, 3 RBIs and a stolen base. He’s appeared in 57 games for the Royals this season.
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. He’s currently on a rehab assignment with the Double A Frisco Rough Riders and is slated to return to the Rangers soon.
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 .242 with 12 home runs and 38 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 276 career home runs with 750 career RBIs. Alonso’s 264 career home runs with the Mets remains a franchise record.
Christian Scott, New York Mets, P
Scott, who pitched at Florida from 2019-21, returned to the majors in 2026, recently picked up his first career win against the Miami Marlins on May 30 after sitting out the entire 2025 season following Tommy John surgery to repair a torn UCL in his pitching elbow.
In seven starts this season, Scott is 1-0 with a 2.97 ERA. He’s struck out 38 batters in 30 1/3 innings pitched.
In 16 career starts, Scott is 1-3 with a 3.94 ERA, with 77 strikeouts in 77 2/3 innings pitched.
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.
Sterlin Thompson, Colorado Rockies, OF
Thompson, who played a UF from 2021-22, made his MLB debut with the Rockies on May 15 and is batting .184 with 0 home runs and 4 RBIs. The 24-year-old Thompson was selected in the first round (31st overall) by the Rockies in the 2022 MLB Draft.
Franco Aleman, Cleveland Guardians, P
Aleman, who made 23 appearances in nine starts for the Gators in 2021, is a hard-throwing righty who made his MLB debut with the Guardians on May 10. In two appearances out the bullpen, Aleman is 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA.
Harrison Bader, San Francisco Giants, OF
Bader is hitting .170 in 30 games with the Giants with 5 home runs and 14 RBIs but is back on the IL with plantar fasciitis in his left foot.
Bader, who played at UF from 2013-15, has posted a .244 career average with 93 home runs, 336 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 2-5 with a 6.18 ERA. In 11 starts and 51 innings pitched, Singer has struck out 36 and walked 16, while surrendering 16 home runs.
In seven seasons with the Kansas City Royals and Cincinnati Reds, Singer has posed a 52-61 career record and 4.34 ERA.
Brandon Sproat, Milwaukee Brewers, P
Sproat, who helped pitch UF to a CWS trip in 2023, is 1-4 with a 624 ERA in his first season with the Milwaukee Brewers. In 11 appearances, nine starts and 49 innings pitched, Sproat has walked 27 batters and struck out 52.
The New York Mets traded Sproat to the Brewers during the offseason. In two seasons with the Mets and Brewers, Sproat is 1-6 with a 5.81 ERA
Jacob Young, Washington Nationals, OF
Young, who played at UF from 2019-21, is batting .236 on the season with 8 home runs, 27 RBIs and 4 stolen bases.
In four seasons with the Nationals, Young has posted a .245 career average with 13 homers, 103 RBIs and 65 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. His rehab assignment recently moved to Triple-A Reno and he’s expected to return later this month.
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, remains on the IL but began a rehab stint with a 2-inning stint at Atlanta’s spring training complex in North Port. He’s expected to return in mid-to-late 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.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: How Florida baseball players are faring in MLB. A full list.
Reporting by Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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By Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun | USA TODAY Network
