Sterlin Thompson selected in the first round of 2022 MLB Draft
Florida Gators outfielder Sterlin Thompson realized a lifelong dream Sunday night when he was selected 31st overall by the Colorado Rockies in the 2022 MLB Draft. It’s the highest a Florida outfielder has ever been selected. The pick was the first in the compensation round, between the first and the second. The 31st pick is slotted for a $2,429,300 signing bonus.
Thompson is the 213th Florida Gators baseball player to be drafted. He is also the 11th first-round pick for Kevin O’Sullivan, and the first since Jonathan India in 2018 (5th overall – Cincinnatti Reds).
Thompson at Florida
Thompson wasn’t drafted out of high school due in part to a truncated, five-round draft in 2020. He enrolled at Florida and hit .301 with five home runs and 27 RBI. Thompson, a left-handed hitting shortstop in high school, was moved to the outfield in order to get his bat in the lineup. He appeared in 55 games including 51 starts as a true freshman. Thompson was named to the 2021 Freshman All-SEC Team and the 2021 SEC All-Tournament Team.
As a sophomore, Thompson broke out. He slashed .354/.443/.563 with career highs in homers (11), doubles (16), runs (59), RBI (51), walks (37), and stolen bases (10). He also only struck out 47 times in 254 at-bats. Thompson has a great bat, one that scouts will project at the next level. His biggest question mark is on defense. Thompson is an adequate corner outfielder but not great. Can he fit in at the next level there, or does he slide down to second base, where he played a lot for the Gators in 2022?
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Tom Herman
FAU set to fire head coach
- 2New
CBB AP Poll
Big movers in latest rankings
- 3
Don Brown fired
UMass parts ways with HC
- 4
Iowa QB out
Ankle injury sidelines Brendan Sullivan
- 5
Phil Longo fired
Wisconsin announces firing of OC
Thompson’s biggest moment last season came against Florida State on May 17. Thompson hit a walk off two run home run to beat the Noles.
That’s something I dreamed of as a kid, especially against FSU, a big-time rival,” he said after the game. “It was amazing going around the bases… It was something I’ll never forget.”
