Which Florida Gators Will Go in the First Round in the 2022 MLB Draft?
By Tucker Welch
![Florida utility Wyatt Langford #36 reacts to scoring as teammates congratulate him in the dugout during the fifth inning Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 121 Financial Ballpark in Jacksonville. The annual game, Fresh From Florida Sunshine Showdown, between the Florida State Seminoles and the University of Florida Gators, resumed after two year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Florida downed Florida St. 6-3. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]Jki 033122 Uffsubaseball 23](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F2a4e13f79d8001096ec3a2011883df9fb3d766bb1ac0d454c72fadb4b247957c.jpg "Florida utility Wyatt Langford #36 reacts to scoring as teammates congratulate him in the dugout during the fifth inning Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 121 Financial Ballpark in Jacksonville. The annual game, Fresh From Florida Sunshine Showdown, between the Florida State Seminoles and the University of Florida Gators, resumed after two year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Florida downed Florida St. 6-3. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]Jki 033122 Uffsubaseball 23")
Which Gator’s Will Go in the First Round of the 2022 MLB Draft?
The 2022 MLB draft is just under three weeks away, and there are two Florida Gators with an excellent chance to go in the first round. Jud Fabian was drafted last year in the second round to the Boston Red Sox but chose to return to Florida. Sterlin Thompson, on the other hand, has a chance to get drafted for the first time. Both are wondering the same thing, though, did they do enough to become a first-round pick?
Fabian is the 38th ranked prospect in this year’s draft, according to MLB.com. Fabian batted .239 with 24 home runs and driving in 55 runs. He also included an on-base percentage of .414. Fabian includes a lot of pop in his bat, making him very appealing to teams. He was also able to drop his strikeout rate from last season.
Florida Gators’ Jud Fabian hits his 13th home run of the season!
— Farm To Fame (@FarmToFame_) April 5, 2022
pic.twitter.com/h9trghyLIC
Jud Fabian’s ability to make contact more consistently to go along with his power is something that should have his draft stock rise. If he is selected in the first round, expect him to be later. Fabian also showed his ability to flash the leather, making jaw-dropping plays throughout the season.
The best center fielder in college baseball.
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) June 6, 2022
💎 @judfabe pic.twitter.com/cCfca9VCIR
While this is Sterlin Thompson’s first draft, he will likely to be drafted higher. He is the 27th-ranked prospect, according to MLB.com. His stellar bat is what has scouts most excited as he batted .354 with 11 home runs and 51 runs batted in from the left side. He also included an on-base percentage of .443.
Baseball world, meet Sterlin Thompson. pic.twitter.com/JWEAEoDM4A
— Ethan Budowsky (@ethanbudowsky) February 19, 2022
Thompson will also be a late first-round pick, although he’s likely to go before Fabian. Thompson’s potential to become more of a power hitter is something to keep an eye on. He’s 6’4, 200 pounds, which whoever drafts him will use to their advantage to try and get him to show more power.
Florida fans will be ecstatic to see more former Gators go pro, as there is a good chance that Thompson or Fabian will end the recent drought of players selected in the first round. The last time we saw a Gator go in the first round was in 2018. This will be the year this drought ends, however, with two high-quality players that we could see go late in the first round.
Keep up with the Florida Gators here.