The MLB Draft concluded today, and it was a long while until any current UF players heard their names called.
Left fielder Avery Barnes was the first current Gator to go. He was chosen by the Washington Nationals with pick 1201 in the 40th round.
Senior Josh Edmondson was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 41st round, 1249 overall. Edmondson will be the third UF reliever to join the LA farm system in three years. Darren O'Day and David Hurst both signed free-agent contracts with the Angels at the end of their senior years.
There were quite a few UF signees selected on the second day of the draft:
RHP Ryan Weber: Philadelphia Phillies, 12th round, 376 overall. RHP Anthony DeSclafani, Boston Red Sox, 22nd round, 682 overall. SS Jerico Weitzel: Minnesota Twins, 27th round, 816 overall. RHP Juan Carlos Sulbaran: Cincinnati Reds, 30th round, 899 overall. C Ben McMahon: New York Yankees, 30th round, 920 overall. OF Tyler Thompson: San Francisco Giants, 42nd round, 1257 overall. LHP Nick Maronde: Oakland Athletics, 43rd round, 1294 overall.Weber is probably the biggest question-mark as to whether he will choose to sign ordon the Orange and Blue instead. DeSclafani could also be persuaded if the Red Sox throw enough cash his way. Maronde was actually the top-rated UF signee by Baseball America, but likely fell because of the amount of money it would take to make him walk away from Florida. McMahon was another top-200 talent who fell because of signability concerns.
If anything, that list is a testament to the great young talent the Gators will be welcoming into the fold next season.
But the biggest surprise was not seeing the names of Patrick Keating or Stephen Locke at all on the second day of the draft. That means that Keating, a junior, will return for his senior season. Locke, on the other hand, must now decide whether grad school and another year of UF baseball is in his future.
Also of note: Santa Fe Community College's sophomore lefty John Lambert was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 36th round, pick 1081 overall.
Shortstop Cole Figueroa, who was taken by the San Diego Padres yesterday in the 6th round, apparently has Paul DePodesta impressed. On http://itmightbedangerous.blogspot.com/2008/06/cole-figueroa.html yesterday, DePodesta had this to say about Florida's sophomore:
"Hopefully we can convince him to start his pro career, as he is a solid left-handed hitting middle infielder who has terrific instincts for the game. He's another player who seemed to raise his game when it counted the most. At the plate he is a handsy hitter who will hit the ball where it's pitched but also has the ability to hit the ball out of the ballpark."
Check Tuesday's Alligator for an update on Cole and the rest of the Gators involved in the draft.
