It's Opening Day in MLB, and Florida Baseball is well-represented this year. The Gators have 11 players represented across the league, and that doesn't include the possibility of players like Jac Caglianone getting called up later this year.
Here is a rundown of who will take the field today.
Florida Baseball Opening Day: Pete Alonso
The Polar Bear himself is embarking on his 7th season in MLB with the New York Mets, who spent a ton of money this offseason. Alonso is coming off a season where he hit .240 with 34 home runs and an OPS of .788.
The irony is that Alonso was not a massive power bat during his time with the Gators, and the most he hit in one season was 14. Also sometimes forgotten, he was drafted after the 2016 season and was not on the 2017 national title squad.
Harrison Bader
After starting his career with St. Louis in 2017, Bader has been bouncing around since 2022. Bader spent last year with the New York Mets and had a batting average of .236 with 51 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. This year, Bader will be a member of the Minnesota Twins.
In 2015, Bader hit .297 with 17 home runs for the Gators.
Alex Faedo
Faedo's pro career has not gone according to plan since being drafted in the 1st round by Detroit in 2017. Injuries have derailed his career, and the Tigers released him in the offseason. He was picked up by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Faedo was the star of Florida's 2017 run and was named College World Series Most Outstanding Player.
Jonathan India
Another key cog of the 2017 national title team, India was drafted 5th overall in 2018 by the Cincinnati Reds. He hit .248 last season with a .357 on-base percentage and 58 RBIs.
He had ankle surgery in the offseason and was traded to the Kansas City Royals.
Jackson Kowar
The other star pitcher from the 2017 squad who came in during game two against LSU to earn the save, Kowar made his MLB debut in 2021 with the Kansas City Royals.
He wound up with the Seattle Mariners ahead of the 2024 season but had Tommy John surgery for a UCL tear and is still not fully recovered.
Wyatt Langford
After powering Florida to the championship series in 2023, Langford was drafted by the Texas Rangers and was fast-tracked for the Big Leagues in 2024.
Langford hit .253 with 16 home runs and 74 RBIs during his rookie campaign.
AJ Puk
Puk made his MLB debut in 2019 and has been a steady arm out of the bullpen over the years. Last year, the Miami Marlins had him as a starter before Puk got hurt and returned to being a bullpen guy.
At the trade deadline last season, he was sent to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Christian Scott
After three solid years with the Gators, Scott was drafted in the 5th round by the New York Mets in 2021. He worked his way through the minors and was called up in 2024.
Scott started nine games last year for the Mets with an ERA of 4.56.
Brady Singer
The game-one starter in the 2017 CWS Finals, Singer went on to be the SEC Pitcher of the Year in 2018 and was drafted by Kansas City 18th overall.
He was called up in 2020, but his time with the Royals was up and down. Last year, he made 32 starts with a 3.71 ERA. Singer was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in the offseason in the deal that sent India to Kansas City.
Danny Young
Young was taken in the 8th round in the 2015 draft by Toronto, but it wasn't until 2022 he made his MLB debut with Seattle.
He has bounced around but was with the New York Mets during their playoff run and made an appearance with the Mets during the NLCS.
Jacob Young
Another member of the Covid group who had their 2020 season cut short, Young was drafted in the 7th round by Washington in 2021. He made his MLB debut in 2023, and last year, his 33 stolen bases were 5th most in the National League.