Florida pitcher Johnny Magliozzi became the fourth Gator to sign with a professional team when he signed a contract with the New York Mets on June 25.
The UF sophomore was selected in the 17th round (506th overall) in the MLB First-Year Player Draft after he led the Gators with a 2.67 ERA.
Magliozzi will begin his pro career with the Brooklyn Cyclones of the New York-Penn League – the Mets’ short-season Class A affiliate.
Magliozzi will join two other former Gators in the NYPL.
Former Florida ace Jonathon Crawford was assigned to the Connecticut Tigers after Detroit took him 20th overall in the draft.
Crawford has started two games for Connecticut, pitching five innings and allowing one unearned run. He has struck out seven batters without issuing a walk.
Cody Dent also plays in the NYPL. He was assigned to the Auburn Doubledays – the affiliate of Washington Nationals.
Despite Dent’s struggles on offense in Gainesville, he has seen early success in Auburn. The infielder is hitting .333 in eight games with the Doubledays, racking up nine hits in 27 at-bats.
Elsewhere in the minor leagues, two other former Gators have seen mixed results.
Pitcher Daniel Gibson was assigned to the Hillsboro Hops, the Arizona Diamondback’s affiliate in the Northwest League.
Gibson has made three appearances for the Hops, all in relief. He struck out five batters in 4.2 innings while surrendering three unearned runs.
Infielder Taylor Ratliff was also drafted by the Diamondbacks and assigned to the Hops, but he has had a tougher transition.
Ratliff is batting .222 with 10 hits in 45 at-bats. Ratliff did not play for Florida in 2013.
He sat out the season after transferring from Jacksonville University before Arizona drafted him in June.
The only Gator who was drafted and has not signed with a pro team is Karsten Whitson. The Nationals selected the junior pitcher in the 37th round. Whitson has until July 15 to sign with Washington.
Contact Adam Lichtenstein at alichtenstein@alligator.org.
Right-handed pitcher Johnny Magliozzi (left) celebrates with catcher Taylor Gushue during Florida’s 4-0 win against Ole Miss on March 31 at McKethan Stadium.
