Florida Gators 2022 MLB Draft Preview

With the 2022 MLB Draft inching closer, several Florida Gators are nearing their lifelong dream of playing professional baseball. The 2022 MLB Draft will be held from July 17-19.

Dating back to the inaugural year of the MLB Draft in 1965, Florida has had 212 individuals combine for 240 draft selections, including 16 first-round picks (22 counting the draft’s secondary phase). Florida’s MLB Draft history has been even more impressive in the Kevin O’Sullivan era.

The Gators have developed pitchers exceptionally well under O’Sullivan, producing 24 draft picks on the mound since 2008 – which ranks fourth in the country. Furthermore, 18 of those hurlers were selected in the first-five rounds – a total that comes in third in all of college baseball. O’Sullivan has produced 95 draft picks in his 15 seasons with the Gators.

Draft Schedule

	Sunday, July 17 7 p.m.	Monday, July 18 2 p.m.	Tuesday, July 19 2 p.m.
Rounds	1	2-10	11-20
Coverage	ESPN / MLB Network	MLB.com	MLB.com
Links	WATCH	WATCH	WATCH

Gators in the 2022 MLB Draft

The Gators have several players that will hear their names called this season. After a stellar sophomore campaign, Thompson has positioned himself as a potential first-rounder or compensation pick. Thompson batted .354/.443/.563 with career highs in homers (11). Along with Thompson, outfielder Jud Fabian, pitchers Hunter Barco, Brandon Sproat, and infielder Josh Rivera should all hear their names called this month.

Fabian returned for his junior season where he cemented his place in Florida baseball history. He became the second Gator to hit 20 home runs in back-to-back seasons (Brad Wilkerson, 1997-98). His 56 career home runs rank third in program history. Fabian started all 66 games for Florida in center field and did not make an error across 155 chances while batting .239/.414/.598 with a career-high 24 home runs, one triple, 10 doubles, 63 runs, 55 RBI, 62 walks and nine steals.

Sproat made 17 appearances including a team-high 16 starts on the mound. He posted a 9-4 record on the season and led the Gators with 89.2 innings pitched. Sproat went 5-0 with a 1.59 ERA and .218 batting average against in his last six starts of the season.

Barco’s season came to an unfortunate end earlier than expected. The junior made nine starts on the mound prior to undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery. Barco went 5-2 with a 2.50 ERA and 69 strikeouts across 50 1/3 innings pitched, allowing just 34 hits and 11 walks, translating to a 0.89 WHIP. He posted a 12.3 K/9, 1.9 BB/9 and 6.3 K-to-BB ratio.

Where they rank

MLB Pipeline:

No. 29 Sterlin Thompson

No. 52 Jud Fabian

No. 75 Hunter Barco

No. 117 Brandon Sproat

No. 249 Colby Halter

Baseball America

No. 37 Sterlin Thompson

No. 50 Brandon Sproat

No. 59 Jud Fabian

No. 70 Hunter Barco

No. 241 Colby Halter

No. 396 BT Riopelle

No. 490 Josh Rivera

Prospects Live

No. 32 Sterlin Thompson

No. 80 Jud Fabian

No. 84 Brandon Sproat

No. 94 Hunter Barco

No. 340 Josh Rivera

No. 395 Tyler Nesbitt

No. 457 Colby Halter

First Round Draft Picks in Program History (16)

2018: 3B Jonathan India – Round 1, Pick 5 (Cincinnati Reds)
2018: RHP Brady Singer – Round 1, Pick 18 (Kansas City Royals)
2018: Jackson Kowar – Round 1, Pick 33 (Kansas City Royals)
2017: RHP Alex Faedo – Round 1, Pick 18 (Detroit Tigers)
2016: LHP A.J. Puk – Round 1, Pick 6 (Oakland Athletics)
2016: RHP Dane Dunning – Round 1, Pick 29 (Washington Nationals)
2015: SS Richie Martin – Round 1, Pick 20 (Oakland Athletics)
2013: RHP Jonathon Crawford – Round 1, Pick 20 (Detroit Tigers)
2012: C Mike Zunino – Round 1, Pick 3 (Seattle Mariners)
2012: LHP/1B Brian Johnson – Round 1, Pick 31 (Boston Red Sox)
2007: 1B Matt LaPorta – Round 1, Pick 7 (Milwaukee Brewers)
1998: 1B/OF/LHP Brad Wilkerson – Round 1, Pick 33 (Montreal Expos)
1993: RHP Marc Valdes – Round 1, Pick 27 (Florida Marlins)
1992: RHP John Burke – Round 1, Pick 27 (Colorado Rockies)
1991: RHP John Burke – Round 1, Pick 6 (Houston Astros)
1989: RHP Jamie McAndrew – Round 1, Pick 28 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
1986: OF Scott Ruskin – Round 1, Pick 8 (Montreal Expos) *secondary phase*
1983: RHP Rich Rice – Round 1, Pick 3 (Baltimore Orioles) *secondary phase*
1983: SS Robby Thompson – Round 1, Pick 2 (San Francisco Giants) *secondary phase*
1981: LHP Rob Murphy – Round 1, Pick 3 (Cincinnati Reds) *secondary phase*
1981: RHP Randy O’Neal – Round 1, Pick 15 (Detroit Tigers) *secondary phase*
1978: C Jim Watkins – Round 1, Pick 1 (Atlanta Braves) *secondary phase*