GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida All-American closer Brandon Neely<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-neely/16373> was snagged with the 86th overall selection of the 2024 MLB Draft’s third round by the Boston Red Sox on Monday afternoon.
Neely is the second Gator to have his name called at this year’s MLB Draft in the initial 90 picks, trailing first baseman/left-handed pitcher Jac Caglianone<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jac-caglianone/16365>, who went sixth overall<https://floridagators.com/news/2024/7/14/baseball-caglianone-selected-sixth-overall-by-royals-in-2024-mlb-draft.aspx> to the Kansas City Royals on Sunday night.
The flame-throwing Neely is the 222nd individual draft selection in UF baseball history and the 107th of the Kevin O’Sullivan era. As the first Florida hurler off the board in 2024, Neely marks the 23rd pitcher to be selected in the top-five rounds under O’Sullivan (2008-present).
Across seven postseason appearances in 2024, Neely was lights out with a 1.88 ERA, three saves, a .185 batting average against and 38 strikeouts vs. six walks in 24 innings. Five of Neely’s seven NCAA Tournament outings were scoreless appearances while all seven were two-plus innings in length. The right-hander fired 5 2/3 one-hit, shutout innings to earn the win over Oklahoma State in Regionals and pitched four one-hit, scoreless frames to record the save vs. Clemson in Super Regionals.
As a result, the Seville, Fla. native finished the season with a 5.13 ERA and five saves in 28 appearances including six starts. He totaled 108 strikeouts against 28 walks in 79 innings, the latter of which led the roster. Batters hit just .237 against Neely in 2024.
The 2023 All-American and First Team All-SEC standout pitched in 83 games (16 starts) across three campaigns in Orange and Blue, owning a 4.24 ERA, .225 BAA and 254 strikeouts in 203 2/3 frames. His 19 saves rank sixth all-time at Florida. Most notably, Neely was a staple in a pair of back-to-back College World Series runs from 2023-24, as well as the Gators’ 2023 SEC Championship.
Running List of Florida’s 2024 MLB Draft Picks (2)
1B/LHP Jac Caglianone<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jac-caglianone/16365> – Round 1, Pick 6 (Kansas City Royals)
RHP Brandon Neely<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-neely/16373> – Round 3, Pick 86 (Boston Red Sox)
What They’re Saying About Neely
MLB Pipeline
“While most of his collegiate work has come out of the bullpen, many scouts think his best chance at the next level might be as a back-end starter. His bulldog mentality and toughness on the mound stand out more than any of his individual offerings, but he could have a complete starter’s repertoire. While his fastball has been up to 96-97 mph, it’s averaged around 93 mph but misses bats with it thanks to its ride, especially when it’s up in the zone. His slider is his go-to secondary pitch, and the mid-80s breaker can be a tight out pitch with power. He has a curve he doesn’t use, though some think it could be very effective and he mixes in a solid average upper-80s changeup… He does tend to step up in bigger moments, something teams considering him on Day 2 of the Draft might be banking on regardless of what role he has.”
Baseball America
“Neely split time as a starter and reliever during his 2022 freshman season but has been a reliable reliever for the most part in both of the 2023 and 2024 seasons. This spring he posted a 5.13 ERA over 79 innings with a 31.4% strikeout rate and 8.1% walk rate. His best pitch is a 92-94 mph fastball that gets up to 97 and features solid riding life and armside run from a lower release point that allows it to generate lots of whiffs for a fastball. He mostly paired the heater with a mid-80s slider, but will also mix in a mid-80s changeup and has thrown a slower mid-70s curveball in the past—though not as often this spring. He’s been a fair strike-thrower in college, which could create an opportunity to start in pro ball, though a bullpen role is his most likely outcome.”
Florida’s MLB Draft History
Pitchers Drafted in First Five Rounds Under HC Kevin O’Sullivan (23)
2024: RHP Brandon Neely<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-neely/16373> – Round 3, Pick 86 (Boston Red Sox)
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 – 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 – Round 2, Pick 69 (Cleveland Indians)
2021: RHP Christian Scott – 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 HC Kevin O’Sullivan (107)
RHP Brandon Neely<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-neely/16373> – Round 3, Pick 86 (Boston Red Sox)
2024: 1B/LHP Jac Caglianone<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jac-caglianone/16365> – Round 1, Pick 6 (Kansas City Royals)
2023: INF Colby Halter<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/colby-halter/15495> – Round 17, Pick 496 (Oakland Athletics)
2023: LHP Philip Abner<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/philip-abner/15488> – Round 6, Pick 175 (Arizona Diamondbacks)
2023: SS Josh Rivera<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/josh-rivera/15504> – Round 3, Pick 81 (Chicago Cubs)
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)
2023: OF Wyatt Langford<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/wyatt-langford/15497> – Round 1, Pick 4 (Texas Rangers)
2022: OF Sterlin Thompson – Round 1, Pick 31 (Colorado Rockies)
2022: LHP Hunter Barco – Round 2, Pick 44 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
2022: OF Jud Fabian – 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 Jud Fabian<https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=14217> – 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)
###
