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Florida Gators shortstop Josh Rivera taken in third round by Chicago Cubs

On3 imageby:Zach Abolverdi•07/10/23•

ZachAbolverdi

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Photo courtesy of UAA Communications / Ashley Ray

Josh Rivera became the fourth Florida player selected in the 2023 MLB Draft on Monday. The Chicago Cubs selected him with the No. 81 overall in the third round.

With the pick, Rivera is the fifth highest-drafted shortstop in school history after going undrafted one year ago. He returned with a vengeance in 2023 and launched a program-record 19 homers for a middle infielder.

Rivera also finished second on the team with a .348 batting average and 89 hits, both of which were career highs along with his 72 RBI and 70 runs. He earned First Team All-SEC honors as a junior and was a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, presented annually to the nation’s best all-around shortstop.

Only five Florida shortstops have ever gone in the first-two rounds or within the top-100 selections: Richie Martin (20th in 2015), Brady McConnell (44th in 2019), Richard Trapp (44th in 1968), Nolan Fontana (61st in 2012) and Rivera (81st in 2023).

The Gators had a pair of first-round picks on Sunday night with Wyatt Langford going fourth overall to the Texas Rangers and the Atlanta Braves drafting Hurston Waldrep with the No. 24 pick. Fellow starting pitcher Brandon Sproat was selected in the second round by the New York Mets.

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Highest drafted shortstops in Gators history

1. 2015: Richie Martin – Round 1, Pick 20 (Oakland Athletics)
T2. 2019: Brady McConnell – Round 2, Pick 44 (Kansas City Royals)
T2. 1968: Richard Trapp – Round 3, Pick 44 (New York Yankees)
4. 2012: Nolan Fontana – Round 2, Pick 61 (Houston Astros)
5. 2013: Josh Rivera – Round 3, Pick 81 (Chicago Cubs)
T6. 2006: Adam Davis – Round 3, Pick 101 (Cleveland Indians)
T6. 1977: Roger Holt – Round 4, Pick 101 (New York Yankees)
8. 2017: Dalton Guthrie – Round 6, Pick 173 (Philadelphia Phillies)
9. 2008: Cole Figueroa – Round 6, Pick 195 (San Diego Padres)
10. 1981: Steve Lombardozzi – Round 9, Pick 218 (Minnesota Twins)
11. 1999: Mark Ellis – Round 9, Pick 271 (Kansas City Royals)
12. 2018: Deacon Liput – Round 10, Pick 314 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
13. 1983: Bruce Crabbe – Round 14, Pick 351 (Cleveland Indians)
14. 1988: Julio Mendez – Round 18, Pick 470 (St. Louis Cardinals)
15. 1984: Bruce Crabbe – Round 19, Pick 473 (Chicago Cubs)
16. 1975: David Bowden – Round 22, Pick 504 (Detroit Tigers)
17. 1979: Larry Hall – Round 21, Pick 528 (Chicago White Sox)
1983: Robby Thompson – Round 1, Pick 2 (San Francisco Giants) *Secondary Phase*
1969: Richard Trapp – Round 12, Pick 3 (Kansas City Royals) *Secondary Phase*

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