For most college baseball programs, the MLB Draft is defined by the players they lose.
For Florida, the biggest victory came from the players who stayed.
While seven Gators were selected during the 2026 MLB Draft, the program avoided season-derailing roster losses. Current standouts returned to Gainesville, and nearly the entire recruiting class remains intact as Florida enters the 2027 season with one of the deepest rosters in the country.
Junior starting pitcher Liam Peterson headlined the Gators' draft class after being selected No. 19 overall by the Cleveland Guardians. Redshirt sophomore outfielder Kyle Jones went No. 102 overall to the Milwaukee Brewers, while top high school signee Kevin Roberts Jr. was selected No. 110 overall by the Baltimore Orioles.
Junior right-handed pitcher Russell Sandefer was drafted No. 132 overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers, junior right-hander Luke McNeillie went No. 152 overall to the New York Mets, junior outfielder Hayden Yost was selected No. 162 overall by the Seattle Mariners and senior outfielder Blake Cyr rounded out the group at No. 548 overall to the New York Yankees.
Every drafted player is expected to sign and begin his professional career.
Among Florida's selections, Yost's name being called in the fifth round stood out the most. The junior was not ranked among MLB's Top 250 draft prospects but still came off the board at No. 162 overall.
The biggest storyline, however, wasn't who left Gainesville.
It was who didn't.
Draft-eligible sophomore infielder Ethan Surowiec and redshirt sophomore two-way player Caden McDonald both went undrafted, giving Florida two cornerstone pieces returning for next season.
Surowiec not being drafted was somewhat unexpected; he ranked No. 249 in MLB's Top 250 prospects, although he had signed a new agreement with Florida's Name, Image and Likeness collective, Florida Victorious, before the draft. Signing with an NIL collective does not prevent a player from being drafted or turning professional, but it does prevent a transfer to another school.
Set for a return to Gainesville, Surowiec has the opportunity to be just as disruptive a force in Florida's offense as last season.
The sophomore led the Gators in hits (78), RBIs (63), total bases (130) and at-bats (246) while starting all 62 games, splitting time between third base and first base. He batted .317 with 14 doubles and 12 home runs and paced Florida in SEC play with a .339 batting average. No other Gator hit above .300 through UF’s conference schedule.
He also played a major role in Florida's run to the SEC Tournament semifinals, going 4-for-5 with one home run, two doubles and three RBIs against Alabama on May 21.
Surowiec is projected to return as Florida's Opening Day third baseman while remaining near the top of the batting order.
Another key returnee, Caden McDonald, developed into one of the nation's premier two-way players in 2026, earning Second Team All-America honors from Baseball America, the NCBWA and Perfect Game. He hit .319 with nine doubles and nine home runs in only 103 plate appearances while posting a 3.42 ERA with 48 strikeouts across 47.1 relief innings.
His breakout performance came against eventual national champion Oklahoma on May 2. McDonald finished 4-for-5 with two doubles, two home runs and six RBIs while pitching three scoreless innings in relief. On the mound, he allowed just one hit and struck out four Sooners in his fifth career start in the lineup.
McDonald is projected to be Florida's starting designated hitter in 2027 while also serving as a high-leverage reliever for new pitching coach Rich Dorman.
Junior outfielder Jaden Bastian also went undrafted, although that result was expected after he suffered a season-ending compound fracture in his right leg during a fall scrimmage before the 2026 season. Before the injury, Bastian was projected to start after transferring from Jacksonville University, where he batted .302 with a .433 on-base percentage. He also hit 10 doubles, five triples and 11 home runs through 55 games while leading the Atlantic Sun Conference with 36 stolen bases. He had entered the season as Baseball America's No. 25 impact transfer.
Bastian is now projected to replace Kyle Jones in center field and could serve as a shifty leadoff hitter for the Gators next season. His younger brother, Kinon, who just participated in MLB's High School Home Run Derby, is also committed to Florida and was taken at No. 12 overall in MLB.com's way-too-early 2027 mock draft.
Florida's success extended well beyond its returning veterans.
Although Roberts Jr. is unlikely to arrive in Gainesville after being drafted in the fourth round, he was the only member of Florida's highly regarded recruiting class selected in the draft. Though many expected to hear their names called during the draft, the Gators retained five Perfect Game Top 100 prospects.
Trinity Christian outfielder Brady Harris is ranked No. 30 overall in the high school class by Perfect Game and should compete for playing time in his freshman season. The Jacksonville product has been compared to a young Dylan Crews, who played his high school ball in Florida before winning the Golden Spikes award for the LSU Tigers.
American Heritage right-handed pitcher Brady Snow is ranked No. 59 overall by Perfect Game. The North Palm Beach product has thrown up to 98 mph and proven to scouts he can maintain his velocity further into starts. His smaller build raises questions about his ability to perform as a starter long-term, but he is expected to pitch this season for the Gators, potentially as a mid-week starter.
Harrison High School left-handed pitcher Colin White is ranked No. 88 overall by Perfect Game. The Powder Springs, Georgia, native was a draft risk after a strong performance at the MLB Draft Combine raised his stock. With the Gators having minimal left-handed pitching options, it wouldn’t be shocking to see White bear some innings on the mound for the Gators in 2027.
Walker High School outfielder Braylen Montgomery is ranked No. 91 by Perfect Game. The Walker, Louisiana, native flipped from Oklahoma to Florida on July 2, not long after the Gators hired Oklahoma assistant coach Todd Butler. Montgomery is already physically imposing, standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 213 pounds, with room to grow. He also has plus speed, stealing 19 bases in his senior season. Montgomery is another Gator outfielder who could compete for playing time in 2027.
The final prepster on the Perfect Game Top 100 who went undrafted is Spring Hill shortstop Keaton Neal, who is ranked No. 96 overall. The Olathe, Kansas, native is a sound defender who can stick at short with lots of physical projection, already standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 200 pounds. Neal will have ample time to develop and settle in as a collegiate shortstop with top prospect Brendan Lawson manning six-hole in 2027.
By the time the final pick was announced, Florida had accomplished far more than simply producing another strong draft class.
The Gators retained two of their most valuable returning players and will welcome 11 of their 12 signees to Gainesville.
For a program with national championship aspirations, the biggest win of draft week wasn't hearing names called — it was hearing so few of the ones Florida couldn't afford to lose.
Contact Colton Veres at cveres@alligator.org. Follow him on X at @colton_veres.
Colton Veres is a senior sports journalism student in his first semester at The Alligator. He is currently the Summer 2026 baseball reporter. In his free time he enjoys watching the Red Sox and spending times with friends and loved ones.
