Marlins, Cubs scoop up Gators arms in 7th round of MLB Draft

Two more Florida Gators are off the big board in the 7th round of the 2025 MLB Draft. Right-handed pitcher Jake Clemente was selected at No. 197 overall by the Miami Marlins, and left-handed pitcher Pierce Coppola was selected by the Chicago Cubs at No. 211 overall. They join Colby Shelton, who was picked by the Chicago Cubs in the sixth round.

Jake Clemente, RHP

Clemente, 6’3”, 225lbs, was ranked by MLB.com as the No. 189 player in the draft, and now he returns close to home. He is a Broward County native and was teammates with Chris Arroyo at Marjory Stoneman Douglas and the University of Florida.

The 21-year old redshirt sophomore missed all of the 2023 season due to a shoulder injury, but did earn SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll for his academic successes.

In the 2024 season as a redshirt freshman he pitched in 19 games (two starts). He went 2-0 with a 5.34 ERA. Over the course of 28 2/3 innings pitched, Clemente gave up 17 earned runs on 26 hits, 20 walks, and struck out 39. Opposing batters had a .234 batting average against him.

In 2024 he once again earned SEC Academic Honor Roll, and was named a Cape Cod League All-Star.

His numbers improved in 2025. He went 2-1 with a 3.46 ERA over the course of 21 appearances (five starts). He threw 54 2/3 innings, giving up 21 earned runs on 36 hits, 25 walks, but struck out 77, compared to 39 in 2024. Opposing teams also only batted .181 against him last season as a redshirt sophomore.

He earned 2025 All-SEC Second Team (RP).

Clemente’s 2025 innings pitched (54.2) and strikeouts (77) ranked third among all Gator pitchers on the season. He also recorded seven saves, all of which were 6+ out-saves out of the bullpen.

Clemente is described by scouts as a strong player with size and power, garnering comparisons to Christan Scott or Dane Dunning. His fastball averages 95 mph, while touching 98-99. He has a mid-80s slider that has sweeping action downward, and also uses a changeup, but that is a pitch he still needs to develop more to be successful with.

As he transitions into the next level, he will need to work on his consistency with finding the strike zone and develop that third pitch changeup to be successful or to progress to being more than a reliever.

Pierce Coppola, LHP

The start to Coppola’s collegiate career was anything but what he hoped for. He threw one game for Florida on the first Sunday of the 2022 season before missing the rest of that season due to an injury that forced the lefty to undergo surgery for a bulging disk in his back. He did not pitch at all and missed all of the 2023 season after undergoing shoulder surgery. But yet, the comeback kid never gave up, persevering through it all, and now he finds himself a Chicago Cub.

After recovering from those injuries, Coppola made eight starts for the Gators in 2024. He went 1-4 with an 8.75 ERA on the season. Over the course of 23 2/3 innings in 2024, he gave up 23 earned runs on 27 hits, 12 walks, and struck out 35. Opponents had a .290 batting average against him.

Last season, the 6’8”, 245lbs Redshirt Junior was more back to himself and pitched a stronger year, going 3-1 with a 2.53 ERA. Over the course of 21 1/3 innings, he gave up just six earned runs on 12 hits and struck out 43. Opposing batters were also just .158 against him on the season.

Coppola’s 2.53 ERA, combined with a 0.98 WHIP and opposing batting average of .158 against him, were all personal bests. On May 16 Coppola struck out 10 in 3 2/3 innings against Alabama.

According to Blaine Peterson of Perfect Game, Coppola has a fastball that touches 90-93 mph and a slider that reaches 80-82 mph.

With Shelton, Clemente, and Coppola now off the board, that is three Florida Gators to be selected in this year's draft.