Florida Gators pitcher Brandon Sproat selected in second round by New York Mets
A trio of Gators had their names called on day one of the 2023 MLB Draft. Following two first-rounders, Florida right-handed pitcher Brandon Sproat was selected No. 56 overall by the New York Mets.
Sproat been drafted twice before (90th in 2022, 205th in 2019) and was taken by the Mets last year, but he decided to return to school and boosted his stock with a strong 2023 campaign.
Sproat served as UF’s ace this year, leading the team with a career-high 106.1 innings and posting an 8-3 record. He finished with a 4.66 ERA, .222 batting average against and 134 strikeouts.
Sproat earned the victory against No. 5 Vanderbilt after tossing six shutout innings with five hits allowed and three walks. He finished the season with Second Team All-SEC honors.
“He’s been really good the second half of the year,” UF coach Kevin O’Sullivan said of Sproat after his start vs. Vandy. “I know there’s been a few starts where he probably wishes he could do over, but all in all, he’s set the tone for us for the most part of the season.”
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Sproat made a team-high 16 starts on the mound in 2022, earning a 9-4 record while leading the Gators with 89 2/3 innings pitched. He had a 3.41 ERA, .251 batting average against and 82 Ks.
Sproat is the second Florida right-hander after Hurston Waldrep went in the first round to Atlanta. The first Gator drafted Sunday was Wyatt Langford, taken No. 4 overall by the Texas Rangers.
Highest drafted pitchers in Gators history
T1. 1991: RHP John Burke – Round 1, Pick 6 (Houston Astros)
T1. 2016: LHP A.J. Puk – Round 1, Pick 6 (Oakland Athletics)
T3. 2017: RHP Alex Faedo – Round 1, Pick 18 (Detroit Tigers)
T3. 2018: RHP Brady Singer – Round 1, Pick 18 (Kansas City Royals)
5. 2013: RHP Jonathon Crawford – Round 1, Pick 20 (Detroit Tigers)
6: 2023: RHP Hurston Waldrep – Round 1, Pick 24 (Atlanta Braves)
T7. 1992: RHP John Burke – Round 1, Pick 27 (Colorado Rockies)
T7. 1993: RHP Marc Valdes – Round 1, Pick 27 (Florida Marlins)
9. 1989: RHP Jamie McAndrew – Round 1, Pick 28 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
10. 2016: RHP Dane Dunning – Round 1, Pick 29 (Washington Nationals)
11. 2012: LHP/1B Brian Johnson – Round 1, Pick 31 (Boston Red Sox)
12. 2018: Jackson Kowar – Round 1, Pick 33 (Kansas City Royals)
13. 2022: LHP Hunter Barco – Round 2, Pick 44 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
14. 2004: RHP Justin Hoyman – Round 2, Pick 47 (Cleveland Indians)
15. 2016: RHP Logan Shore – Pick 2, Round 47 (Oakland Athletics)
16. 2023: RHP Brandon Sproat – Pick 2, Round 56 (New York Mets)
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