As the 2025 MLB Draft concluded July 14, six Florida baseball players and two signees heard their names called, marking the next step in their baseball careers.
The Gators produced at least four picks in 16 of the last 17 drafts, including five in 2024. The program boasts 231 unique draft picks in its history and 116 under UF head coach Kevin O’Sullivan.
Among those selected in the draft were shortstop Colby Shelton, right-handed pitcher Jake Clemente, left-handed pitcher Pierce Coppola, third baseman Bobby Boser and catchers Luke Heyman and Brody Donay. The two signees drafted were shortstop Jordan Yost and right-handed pitcher Aaron Watson.
SS Colby Shelton
Shelton was the first Florida player drafted. The Chicago White Sox selected him with the No. 166 overall pick in the sixth round.
It wasn’t Shelton’s first draft experience. He was selected in the 20th round by the Washington Nationals in 2024 before returning to Florida for his junior year.
In his two seasons with the Gators, Shelton logged a .304 batting average with 131 hits, 27 home runs and 91 RBI. Despite his junior season ending early due to a hand injury, he was named a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, which honors the best shortstop in collegiate baseball.
Shelton spent his freshman year with the Alabama Crimson Tide, earning a spot on the Freshman All-SEC team.
“The University of Florida has been nothing but great for me, from the coaching staff, teammates, academic staff, support staff,” Shelton said. “I've really grown as a person and in my baseball ability, so it's definitely prepared me for this next step in the baseball journey.”
Shelton is the eighth-highest drafted shortstop in Gators history and joins a White Sox team that ranks as the No. 6 farm system in the MLB.
RHP Jake Clemente
With the No. 198 pick in the seventh round, the Miami Marlins selected Clemente, marking the first Gator pitcher selected in the 2025 draft.
Clemente spent three seasons with Florida. After suffering a shoulder injury that sidelined him his freshman year, his role increased year after year.
As a redshirt sophomore in 2025, Clemente took over the closing role for the Gators at the midseason mark. He led the Gators with seven saves while posting a career-high ERA of 3.46. He tallied 77 strikeouts over 54 innings, earning him a spot on the All-SEC Second Team.
“Being able to go through everything that I've went through at the University of Florida has allowed me to take that next step in my life,” Clemente said. “It's allowed me to really just grow up altogether.”
He has two years of college eligibility remaining if he chooses to return to school.
LHP Pierce Coppola
The Chicago Cubs drafted Coppola with the No. 211 pick in the seventh round.
Coppola’s college journey is one defined by adversity. After making just one start in his first two seasons due to lingering back and leg injuries, Coppola had his best season as a redshirt junior in 2025.
Coppola made seven weekend starts with 21 total innings pitched, going 3-1 in his starts on the mound. He posted a career-best 2.53 ERA with 43 strikeouts. He suffered an upper-body injury against the Miami Hurricanes on March 1 and returned against the South Carolina Gamecocks May 4 during the 2024-25 season.
3B Bobby Boser
Boser was picked by the Athletics with the No. 320 pick in the 11th round.
Boser spent one season with the Gators after spending the previous three with South Florida. He ended his Bulls career No. 8 all-time in home runs in program history with 31.
As a senior, Boser was the only Gator to start all 61 games in 2025. He posted 80 hits, 18 home runs and 67 RBI, leading all Florida players while batting .336. He delivered a .955 fielding percentage while playing shortstop, second base and third base. He earned a spot on the All-SEC Defensive Team and the NCAA Conway Regional All-Tournament team.
Boser joins an Athletics team ranked the No. 21 farm system, according to the MLB farm rankings.
C Luke Heyman
The Seattle Mariners selected Florida catcher Luke Heyman with the No. 422 overall pick in the 14th round.
Heyman spent three seasons with the Gators, culminating in 177 hits, 41 home runs and 135 RBI.
Heyman started in 49 games in 2025 before suffering a season-ending forearm injury against the Alabama Crimson Tide on May 15. He slashed .301 while adding 13 home runs and 44 RBI. Despite his season’s early end, Heyman was named to the All-SEC First Team as a catcher. Heyman was a semifinalist for the Buster Posey Award, which honors collegiate baseball’s best catcher.
Heyman joins a Seattle team that ranks as the No. 5 farm system.
C Brody Donay
Donay was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays with the No. 508 overall pick in the 17th round, marking the second Florida catcher and last Gator picked in the draft.
He spent two seasons with Florida after spending his freshman year with Virginia Tech.
In 97 total starts with the Gators, Donay hit 32 home runs and slashed a .277 batting average. Donay started 53 of his 57 appearances his junior year, splitting time as catcher, designated hitter and first base. He set career highs with 60 hits, 18 home runs and 41 RBI with a .303 batting average in the 2024-25 season. He fielded at a .966 clip over 237 defensive chances.
Donay joins a Rays team ranked as the No. 2 farm system.
SS Jordan Yost
Yost, the brother of Gators outfielder Hayden Yost, was drafted by the Detroit Tigers as the No. 24 overall pick in the first round.
The Tampa native committed to Florida in January 2023 and ranked as the No. 50 overall prospect pre-draft.
In his last season at Sickles High School, Yost batted .412 and added four home runs and 26 RBI.
RHP Aaron Watson
The Cincinnati Reds selected Watson with the No. 51 overall pick in the second round.
The pitcher from Jacksonville committed to Florida June 7 after flipping from Virginia. He was the No. 45 overall prospect pre-draft.
In his past season with Trinity Catholic, he went 9-0 with a 0.53 ERA.
Teams must agree to deals with selected players by July 28 at 5 p.m.
Contact Adrian Carmona at acarmona@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @abcarmona04.
Adrian Carmona is a third-year journalism major and the Summer 2025 baseball reporter. In his spare time, he enjoys completing Sporcle quizzes and ranting about Miami sports.
