At the start of the 2026 Major League Baseball season, the Florida Gators had a nation-leading 12 former players featured on Opening Day rosters.
There are now 10 former Florida baseball players on active rosters, with injuries being the primary factor behind the dwindling number.
However, it’s worth noting that Hurston Waldrep, who has pitched for the Braves the last two seasons, has made strides to return. After missing most of the season, Waldrep struck out five batters and allowed one run on two hits Sunday, June 21, during a rehab outing for Triple-A Gwinnett.
In the last 19 seasons, under Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan, the Gators have produced a nation-leading 43 MLB debuts since 2008, 116 draft picks, and 14 first-round selections.
Florida will add to that total next month, with the MLB Draft set to begin on July 11.
Here’s a breakdown of how former Florida baseball players are performing in MLB this season.
Jac Caglianone, Kansas City Royals, OF
Caglianone, a former two-way UF star, has continued to hold down right fielder for the 32-46 Royals.
This season, Caglianone has batted .275 with 27 RBIs, 12 doubles and 12 home runs along with three stolen bases. In the last month, Caglianone’s hitting has blossomed as he has hit seven home runs in June. Most recently, he recorded four home runs in a series against the Cardinals. Impressively, Caglianone has cut his strikeout rate to 26% from 33.3% in March and April.
Wyatt Langford, Texas Rangers, OF
This season, Langford has hit .271 with six home runs and 16 RBIs.
Langford, who played at Florida from 2021-23, missed the end of April and all of May with a forearm strain. However, Langford has returned to action and, like Caglianone, has put together an impressive June.
This month, Langford has batted .317 with four doubles, five home runs and 12 RBIs. The Angels are currently in third place in the AL West with a 37-40 record.
Pete Alonso, Baltimore Orioles, IF
Alonso, who played at UF from 2014-16, is batting .249 with 18 home runs and 52 RBIs in his first season with the Orioles.
The month of June has also been good to Alonso, who is batting .290 while hitting seven home runs and 16 RBIs.
The 31-year-old Alonso signed with the Orioles as a free agent after playing his first seven seasons with the New York Mets.
Christian Scott, New York Mets, P
Scott, who pitched at Florida from 2019-21, returned to the majors in 2026 after missing all of last season following Tommy John surgery to repair a torn UCL in his pitching elbow.
So far, Scott has put together a solid bounce-back season. In nine starts, Scott is 2-3 with a 3.10 ERA. He’s struck out 47 batters in 40 2/3 innings pitched and issued 19 walks.
Sterlin Thompson, Colorado Rockies, OF
Thompson, who played at UF from 2021-22, made his MLB debut with the Rockies on May 15.
This season, he is batting .232 with four doubles and 10 RBIs in 27 games. However, this month, Thompson has seen his hitting improve, batting .286, and just under a week ago recorded a two-home-run game against the Chicago Cubs.
Brady Singer, Cincinnati Reds, P
Singer, who pitched at Florida from 2016-18, has a 3-6 win-loss record in 14 starts. In 66 innings pitched, Singer has struck out 52 and walked 23.
However, Singer has posted a 2.40 ERA in June and has lowered his overall ERA from 6.26 in May to 5.32. In three starts this month, Singer has recorded 16 strikeouts and seven walks while allowing four earned runs and 13 hits in 15 innings.
Brandon Sproat, Milwaukee Brewers, P
Sproat is 1-4 with a 5.94 ERA in his first season with the Milwaukee Brewers. In 14 appearances, 12 starts and 63 2/3 innings pitched, Sproat has walked 32 batters and struck out 63.
Jacob Young, Washington Nationals, OF
Young is batting .228 on the season with eight home runs and 28 RBIs. The outfielder has struggled at the plate this month as he has batted .213 in 47 at-bats.
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.
Injury Updates
Harrison Bader, San Francisco Giants, OF
Bader is hitting .170 in 30 games with the Giants with five home runs and 14 RBIs, but is still dealing with plantar fasciitis in his left foot.
The 10-year veteran has not appeared in a game since May 29.
Jonathan India, Kansas City Royals, IF
India, who played at UF from 2016-18, was batting .167 with two home runs and eight 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.
Danny Young, Atlanta Braves, P
Young was sent to High-A affiliate FCL Braves to rehab as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery.
Where are Florida baseball players in the Minor Leagues?
Reach Florida Gators writer Andrew Abadie at AAbadie@usatodayco.com or on X (formerly Twitter) at @AndrewAbadie. You can also find him on Facebook at Andrew Abadie Sports Reporter or on Instagram @andrewabadie_sports.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Tracking how Florida baseball players are doing in MLB and minors
Reporting by Andrew Abadie, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Andrew Abadie, Gainesville Sun | USA TODAY Network
