The right-hander is the third Gator to be selected on day one of the 2023 MLB Draft.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gators right-handed pitcher Brandon Sproat<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-sproat/15508> was selected by the New York Mets with the 56th overall pick of the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft on Sunday night.
Sproat follows Florida teammates Wyatt Langford<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/wyatt-langford/15497> and Hurston Waldrep<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/hurston-waldrep/15517> in the MLB Draft, who were selected fourth overall by Texas and 24th by Atlanta in the first round, respectively. By going 56th, the Pace, Fla. native falls within the 30-highest draft picks in program history. Sproat represents the 22nd pitcher to be drafted in the first five rounds in the Kevin O’Sullivan era as well as the program’s 102nd selection since 2008.
The selection marks the highest Sproat has been drafted out of three choices since 2019. He was taken out of high school by the Texas Rangers in the seventh round and later by the New York Mets in the third round in 2022.
Starring as UF’s Friday night starter all season long, Sproat turned in a Second Team All-SEC campaign after firing 106 1/3 frames of 4.66 ERA ball backed by 134 strikeouts and a .222 batting average against. He made all 19 of his scheduled starts, going 8-3 and tossing two complete games including one shutout.
Sproat wrapped up his four-year tenure in Orange & Blue with a 19-8 record over 223 2/3 innings spread across 56 appearances (37 starts). He struck out 242 career batters against 99 strikeouts.
Running List of Florida’s 2023 MLB Draft Picks (3)
OF Wyatt Langford<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/wyatt-langford/15497> – Round 1, Pick 4 (Texas Rangers)
RHP Hurston Waldrep<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/hurston-waldrep/15517> – Round 1, Pick 24 (Atlanta Braves)
RHP Brandon Sproat<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-sproat/15508> – Round 2, Pick 56 (New York Mets)
What They’re Saying About Sproat
MLB Pipeline
“Sproat looks the part with his 6-foot-3 frame and has a potential four-pitch mix to use to get hitters out. He’s flirted with triple digits in the past – his fastball averaged close to 96 mph in 2022 and he was once again in the 94-98 mph range this fall. He does have distinct breaking pitches, with a mid-80s slider a potential true out pitch that misses a ton of bats and a slower get-me-over type of curve. He has feel for a mid-80s changeup that he doesn’t throw as much, but it could be a fourth at least average pitch. The right-hander made strides in finding the strike zone last year and showed solid command in fall ball, though his fastball can be too straight at times and he gets hit more than he should given his stuff.”
Baseball America
“Sproat has a solid pitcher’s frame at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds and moves well on the mound with a long arm stroke and low, three-quarter slot. He throws hard and averaged 96 mph with his fastball this spring, touching 100-101 mph at best, though the pitch has below-average life and has always played down from that velocity. His go-to secondary in 2023 was a firm, upper-80s changeup with huge arm-side fading life that looked like a plus pitch, and he’s also earned plus grades on his mid-80s slider in the past. In addition to the two-plane breaking slider, Sproat has a slower curveball that is more of a fringe-average pitch. While Sproat will turn 23 shortly after the draft, he’s had a strong year, still flashes loud stuff and should be selected in the first three rounds once again.
Florida’s MLB Draft History
Highest Drafted Players in Program History
1. 2012: C Mike Zunino – Round 1, Pick 3 (Seattle Mariners)
2. 2023: OF Wyatt Langford<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/wyatt-langford/15497> – Round 1, Pick 4 (Texas Rangers)
3. 2018: 3B Jonathan India – Round 1, Pick 5 (Cincinnati Reds)
T4. 1991: RHP John Burke – Round 1, Pick 6 (Houston Astros)
T4. 2016: LHP A.J. Puk – Round 1, Pick 6 (Oakland Athletics)
6. 2007: 1B Matt LaPorta – Round 1, Pick 7 (Milwaukee Brewers)
T7. 2017: RHP Alex Faedo – Round 1, Pick 18 (Detroit Tigers)
T7. 2018: RHP Brady Singer – Round 1, Pick 18 (Kansas City Royals)
T9. 2013: RHP Jonathon Crawford – Round 1, Pick 20 (Detroit Tigers)
T9. 2015: SS Richie Martin – Round 1, Pick 20 (Oakland Athletics)
11. 2023: RHP Hurston Waldrep<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/hurston-waldrep/15517> – Round 1, Pick 24 (Atlanta Braves)
T12. 1992: RHP John Burke – Round 1, Pick 27 (Colorado Rockies)
T12. 1993: RHP Marc Valdes – Round 1, Pick 27 (Florida Marlins)
14. 1989: RHP Jamie McAndrew – Round 1, Pick 28 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
15. 2016: RHP Dane Dunning – Round 1, Pick 29 (Washington Nationals)
T16. 2022: OF Sterlin Thompson<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/sterlin-thompson/15108>, Round 1, Pick 31 (Colorado Rockies)
T16. 2012: LHP/1B Brian Johnson – Round 1, Pick 31 (Boston Red Sox)
18. 2018: RHP Jackson Kowar – Round 1, Pick 33 (Kansas City Royals)
19. 1998: 1B/OF/LHP Brad Wilkerson – Round 1, Pick 33 (Montreal Expos)
20. 2021: OF <https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=14217> Jud Fabian<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jud-fabian/15127> – Round 2, Pick 40 (Boston Red Sox)
T21. 2022: LHP Hunter Barco<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/hunter-barco/15091> – Round 2, Pick 44 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
T21. 2019: SS Brady McConnell – Round 2, Pick 44 (Kansas City Royals)
T23. 2004: RHP Justin Hoyman – Round 2, Pick 47 (Cleveland Indians)
T23. 2016: RHP Logan Shore – Pick 2, Round 47 (Oakland Athletics)
25. 2016: OF Buddy Reed – Round 2, Pick 48 (San Diego Padres)
26. 1979: C Marc Sullivan – Round 2, Pick 52 (Boston Red Sox)
27. 2023: RHP Brandon Sproat<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-sproat/15508> – Round 2, Pick 56 (New York Mets)
28. 2012: SS Nolan Fontana – Round 2, Pick 61 (Houston Astros)
29. 2016: 1B Pete Alonso – Round 2, Pick 64 (New York Mets)
30. 2022: OF Jud Fabian<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jud-fabian/15127> – Round 2, Pick 67 (Baltimore Orioles)
Highest Drafted Players Under Kevin O’Sullivan
1. 2012: C Mike Zunino – Round 1, Pick 3 (Seattle Mariners)
2. 2023: OF Wyatt Langford<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/wyatt-langford/15497> – Round 1, Pick 4 (Texas Rangers)
3. 2018: 3B Jonathan India – Round 1, Pick 5 (Cincinnati Reds)
4. 2016: LHP A.J. Puk – Round 1, Pick 6 (Oakland Athletics)
T5. 2017: RHP Alex Faedo – Round 1, Pick 18 (Detroit Tigers)
T5. 2018: RHP Brady Singer – Round 1, Pick 18 (Kansas City Royals)
T7. 2013: RHP Jonathon Crawford – Round 1, Pick 20 (Detroit Tigers)
T7. 2015: SS Richie Martin – Round 1, Pick 20 (Oakland Athletics)
9. 2023: RHP Hurston Waldrep<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/hurston-waldrep/15517> – Round 1, Pick 24 (Atlanta Braves)
10. 2016: RHP Dane Dunning – Round 1, Pick 29 (Washington Nationals)
T11. 2022: OF Sterlin Thompson<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/sterlin-thompson/15108> – Round 1, Pick 31 (Colorado Rockies)
T11. 2012: LHP/1B Brian Johnson – Round 1, Pick 31 (Boston Red Sox)
13. 2018: RHP Jackson Kowar – Round 1, Pick 33 (Kansas City Royals)
14. 2021: OF <https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=14217> Jud Fabian<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jud-fabian/15127> – Round 2, Pick 40 (Boston Red Sox)
T15. 2022: LHP Hunter Barco<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/hunter-barco/15091> – Round 2, Pick 44 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
T15. 2019: SS Brady McConnell – Round 2, Pick 44 (Kansas City Royals)
17. 2016: RHP Logan Shore – Pick 2, Round 47 (Oakland Athletics)
18. 2016: OF Buddy Reed – Round 2, Pick 48 (San Diego Padres)
19. 2023: RHP Brandon Sproat<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-sproat/15508> – Round 2, Pick 56 (New York Mets)
20. 2012: SS Nolan Fontana – Round 2, Pick 61 (Houston Astros)
Pitchers Drafted in First Five Rounds Under Kevin O’Sullivan (22)
2023: RHP Brandon Sproat<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-sproat/15508> – Round 2, Pick 56 (New York Mets)
2023: RHP Hurston Waldrep<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/hurston-waldrep/15517> – Round 1, Pick 24 (Atlanta Braves)
2022: LHP Hunter Barco<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/hunter-barco/15091> – Round 2, Pick 44 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
2022: RHP Brandon Sproat<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-sproat/15508> – Round 3, Pick 90 (New York Mets)
2021: RHP Tommy Mace<https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=14223> – Round 2, Pick 69 (Cleveland Indians)
2021: RHP Christian Scott<https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=14231> – Round 5, Pick 142 (New York Mets)
2019: RHP Tyler Dyson – Round 5, Pick 153 (Washington Nationals)
2018: RHP Brady Singer – Round 1, Pick 18 (Kansas City Royals)
2018: RHP 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)
2016: RHP Logan Shore – Round 2, Pick 47 (Oakland Athletics)
2016: RHP Shaun Anderson – Round 3, Pick 88 (Boston Red Sox)
2016: LHP Scott Moss – Round 4, Pick 108 (Cincinnati Reds)
2013: RHP Jonathon Crawford – Round 1, Pick 20 (Detroit Tigers)
2012: LHP/1B Brian Johnson – Round 1, Pick 31 (Boston Red Sox)
2012: LHP Steven (Paco) Rodriguez – Round 2, Pick 82 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
2012: RHP Austin Maddox – Round 3, Pick 118 (Boston Red Sox)
2011: LHP Nick Maronde – Round 3, Pick 104 (Los Angeles Angels)
2010: LHP Kevin Chapman – Round 4, Pick 119 (Kansas City Royals)
2009: RHP Billy Bullock – Round 2, Pick 70 (Minnesota Twins)
All Draft Picks Under Kevin O’Sullivan (102)
2023: RHP Brandon Sproat<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-sproat/15508> – Round 2, Pick 56 (New York Mets)
2023: RHP Hurston Waldrep<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/hurston-waldrep/15517> – Round 1, Pick 24 (Atlanta Braves)
2023: OF Wyatt Langford<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/wyatt-langford/15497> – Round 1, Pick 4 (Texas Rangers)
2022: OF Sterlin Thompson<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/sterlin-thompson/15108> – Round 1, Pick 31 (Colorado Rockies)
2022: LHP Hunter Barco<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/hunter-barco/15091> – Round 2, Pick 44 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
2022: OF Jud Fabian<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jud-fabian/15127> – Round 2, Pick 67 (Baltimore Orioles)
2022: RHP Brandon Sproat<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-sproat/15508> – Round 3, Pick 90 (New York Mets)
2021: OF <https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=14217> Jud Fabian<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jud-fabian/15127> – Round 2, Pick 40 (Boston Red Sox)
2021: RHP Tommy Mace<https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=14223> – Round 2, Pick 69 (Cleveland Indians)
2021: C Nathan Hickey<https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=14220> – Round 5, Pick 136 (Boston Red Sox)
2021: RHP Christian Scott<https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=14231> – Round 5, Pick 142 (New York Mets)
2021: OF Jacob Young<https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=14236> – Round 7, Pick 203 (Washington Nationals)
2021: RHP Jack Leftwich<https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=14221> – Round 7, Pick 216 (Cleveland Indians)
2021: RHP Franco Aleman<https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=14238> – Round 10, Pick 306 (Cleveland Indians)
2019: SS Brady McConnell – Round 2, Pick 44 (Kansas City Royals)
2019: RHP Tyler Dyson – Round 5, Pick 153 (Washington Nationals)
2019: OF Wil Dalton – Round 8, Pick 257 (Boston Red Sox)
2019: OF Nelson Maldonado – Round 21, Pick 642 (Chicago Cubs)
2018: 3B Jonathan India – Round 1, Pick 5 (Cincinnati Reds)
2018: RHP Brady Singer – Round 1, Pick 18 (Kansas City Royals)
2018: RHP Jackson Kowar – Round 1, Pick 33 (Kansas City Royals)
2018: C JJ Schwarz – Round 8, Pick 233 (Oakland Athletics)
2018: SS Deacon Liput – Round 10, Pick 314 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
2018: RHP Michael Byrne – Round 14, Pick 409 (Cincinnati Reds)
2018: OF/LHP Nick Horvath – Round 25, Pick 745 (Baltimore Orioles)
2017: RHP Alex Faedo – Round 1, Pick 18 (Detroit Tigers)
2017: SS Dalton Guthrie – Round 6, Pick 173 (Philadelphia Phillies)
2017: C Mike Rivera – Round 6, Pick 192 (Cleveland Indians)
2017: C Mark Kolozsvary – Round 7, Pick 197 (Cincinnati Reds)
2017: RHP David Lee – Round 27, Pick 808 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
2017: RHP Frank Rubio – Round 29, Pick 876 (San Francisco Giants)
2017: 2B Deacon Liput – Round 29, Pick 880 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
2017: C JJ Schwarz – Round 38, Pick 1129 (Tampa Bay Rays)
2016: LHP A.J. Puk – Round 1, Pick 6 (Oakland Athletics)
2016: RHP Dane Dunning – Round 1, Pick 29 (Washington Nationals)
2016: RHP Logan Shore – Round 2, Pick 47 (Oakland Athletics)
2016: OF Buddy Reed – Round 2, Pick 48 (San Diego Padres)
2016: 1B Pete Alonso – Round 2, Pick 64 (New York Mets)
2016: RHP Shaun Anderson – Round 3, Pick 88 (Boston Red Sox)
2016: LHP Scott Moss – Round 4, Pick 108 (Cincinnati Reds)
2016: LHP Kirby Snead – Round 10, Pick 312 (Toronto Blue Jays)
2015: SS Richie Martin – Round 1, Pick 20 (Oakland Athletics)
2015: OF Harrison Bader – Round 3, Pick 100 (St. Louis Cardinals)
2015: RHP Eric Hanhold – Round 6, Pick 181 (Milwaukee Brewers)
2015: LHP Danny Young – Round 8, Pick 242 (Toronto Blue Jays)
2015: RHP Taylor Lewis – Round 9, Pick 270 (Atlanta Braves)
2015: 3B Josh Tobias – Round 10, Pick 294 (Philadelphia Phillies)
2015: LHP Bobby Poyner – Round 14, Pick 411 (Boston Red Sox)
2015: RHP Mike Vinson – Round 24, Pick 730 (Detroit Tigers)
2015: RHP Aaron Rhodes – Round 28, Pick 855 (Los Angeles Angels)
2014: C Taylor Gushue – Round 4, Pick 131 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
2014: RHP Justin Shafer – Round 8, Pick 234 (Toronto Blue Jays)
2014: RHP Karsten Whitson – Round 11, Pick 344 (Boston Red Sox)
2014: 2B Casey Turgeon – Round 24, Pick 735 (St. Louis Cardinals)
2014: RHP Ryan Harris – Round 26, Pick 794 (Boston Red Sox)
2014: RHP Keenan Kish – Round 34, Pick 1025 (Cincinnati Reds)
2013: RHP Jonathon Crawford – Round 1, Pick 20 (Detroit Tigers)
2013: LHP Daniel Gibson – Round 7, Pick 210 (Arizona Diamondbacks)
2013: OF Taylor Ratliff – Round 13, Pick 390 (Arizona Diamondbacks)
2013: RHP Johnny Magliozzi – Round 17, Pick 506 (New York Mets)
2013: SS Cody Dent – Round 22, Pick 676 (Washington Nationals)
2013: OF Jeff Driskel – Round 29, Pick 863 (Boston Red Sox)
2013: RHP Karsten Whitson – Round 37, Pick 1126 (Washington Nationals)
2012: C Mike Zunino – Round 1, Pick 3 (Seattle Mariners)
2012: LHP/1B Brian Johnson – Round 1, Pick 31 (Boston Red Sox)
2012: SS Nolan Fontana – Round 2, Pick 61 (Houston Astros)
2012: LHP Steven (Paco) Rodriguez – Round 2, Pick 82 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
2012: RHP Austin Maddox – Round 3, Pick 118 (Boston Red Sox)
2012: OF Preston Tucker – Round 7, Pick 219 (Houston Astros)
2012: RHP Hudson Randall – Round 7, Pick 244 (Detroit Tigers)
2012: OF Daniel Pigott – Round 9, Pick 292 (Cincinnati Reds)
2012: RHP Greg Larson – Round 20, Pick 631 (Boston Red Sox)
2011: LHP Nick Maronde – Round 3, Pick 104 (Los Angeles Angels)
2011: RHP Anthony DeSclafani – Round 6, Pick 199 (Toronto Blue Jays)
2011: RHP Alex Panteliodis – Round 9, Pick 282 (New York Mets)
2011: RHP Tommy Toledo – Round 11, Pick 341 (Milwaukee Brewers)
2011: 2B Josh Adams – Round 13, Pick 403 (Florida Marlins)
2011: 1B/OF Preston Tucker – Round 16, Pick 498 (Colorado Rockies)
2011: C Ben McMahan – Round 23, Pick 701 (Milwaukee Brewers)
2011: RHP Matt Campbell – Round 24, Pick 751 (Philadelphia Phillies)
2011: RHP Greg Larson – Round 29, Pick 885 (Los Angeles Angels)
2011: OF Bryson Smith – Round 34, Pick 1045 (Cincinnati Reds)
2011: OF Tyler Thompson – Round 46, Pick 1387 (Washington Nationals)
2010: LHP Kevin Chapman – Round 4, Pick 119 (Kansas City Royals)
2010: OF Matt den Dekker – Round 5, Pick 152 (New York Mets)
2010: RHP Tommy Toledo – Round 32, Pick 975 (Minnesota Twins)
2010: C Hampton Tignor – Round 36, Pick 1104 (Los Angeles Angels)
2010: RHP Justin Poovey – Round 41, Pick 1254 (Los Angeles Angels)
2010: RHP Matt Campbell – Round 43, Pick 1297 (Cincinnati Reds)
2009: RHP Billy Bullock – Round 2, Pick 70 (Minnesota Twins)
2009: OF Avery Barnes – Round 11, Pick 331 (Colorado Rockies)
2009: LHP Tony Davis – Round 12, Pick 372 (Minnesota Twins)
2009: OF Matt den Dekker – Round 16, Pick 475 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
2009: RHP Patrick Keating – Round 20, Pick 602 (Kansas City Royals)
2009: C Buddy Munroe – Round 22, Pick 672 (Minnesota Twins)
2009: LHP Stephen Locke – Round 22, Pick 681 (Los Angeles Angels)
2009: SS Mike Mooney – Round 23, Pick 686 (Baltimore Orioles)
2009: OF Riley Cooper – Round 25, Pick 754 (Texas Rangers)
2009: LHP Kevin Chapman – Round 50, Pick 1513 (Chicago White Sox)
2008: SS Cole Figueroa – Round 6, Pick 195 (San Diego Padres)
2008: OF Avery Barnes – Round 40, Pick 1201 (Washington Nationals)
2008: RHP Josh Edmondson – Round 41, Pick 1249 (Los Angeles Angels)
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