St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Harrison Bader (48) celebrates after hitting a solo home run during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium.
Three Gators Primed for 2021 MLB Postseason
Monday, October 4, 2021 | Baseball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – With the 2021 Major League Baseball regular season drawing to a close on Sunday, three former Gators are set to make postseason runs with their respective teams this October: Harrison Bader (St. Louis Cardinals), Anthony Desclafani (San Francisco Giants) and Mike Zunino (Tampa Bay Rays).
Desclafani and Zunino both enter the postseason on teams that delivered the best overall records in their respective leagues this past season. Desclafani's Giants paced the entire MLB with a 107-55 record (.660), while Zunino's Rays posted the best record in the American League at 100-62 (.617). Meanwhile, Bader's Cardinals recently rattled off a franchise-record 17-consecutive wins to earn a spot in Wednesday's National League Wild Card game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The MLB Playoffs begin on Tuesday, Oct. 5 with the AL Wild Card Game. Following the NL Wild Card game on Oct. 6, the Division Series round will kick off on Thursday, Oct. 7. The AL Championship Series will then begin on Friday, Oct. 15 while the NL Championship Series starts on Saturday, Oct. 16.
The 2021 World Series will run from Tuesday, Oct. 26 to Wednesday, Nov. 3 (if necessary).
In total, 14 former Gators appeared on official 26-man rosters in the MLB this past season.
Playoff-Bound Gators
Harrison Bader | OF | St. Louis Cardinals | UF 2013-15
2021: .267/.324/.460, 16 HR, 1 3B, 21 2B, 50 RBI, 45 R, 27 BB, 9 SB (103 G – 401 AB)
As evidenced by being named the NL Player of the Week on Sept. 27, Bader played a vital role in the 17-game winning streak that propelled St. Louis into the postseason. During the previous week of action, Bader hit .517 with three home runs, two stolen bases and a 1.548 OPS. Bader set career highs this season in batting average, slugging percentage, home runs, doubles and RBI. Look for Bader to pick up regular playing time for the Cardinals this October as the team's primary center fielder.
Anthony DeSclafani | RHP | San Francisco Giants | UF 2009-11
2021: 13-7, 31 GS, 167.2 IP, 2 SHO, 3.17 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 42 B, 152 K, 129 ERA+
To say Desclafani enjoyed a career year on the mound would be an understatement. Alongside staff ace Kevin Gausman and second-year hurler Logan Webb, Desclafani helped to anchor a Giants pitching staff that many thought incapable of qualifying for October baseball at the onset of the season. En route to leading the MLB with two complete-game shutouts, Desclafani set career bests in wins, complete games, shutouts and ERA while pitching 29% better than league average. As the Giants await the winner of Wednesday's Cardinals-Dodgers Wild Card game, expect Desclafani to get the ball in game two of the NL Division Series.
Mike Zunino | C | Tampa Bay Rays | UF 2010-12
2021: .216/.301/.559, 33 HR, 2 3B, 11 2B, 64 R, 62 RBI, 34 BB, 138 OPS+ (109 G – 333 AB)
This past season, Zunino and fellow Gator great Pete Alonso became the first duo from the same college program to launch 30-plus home runs in the same season since 2017. In the process, Zunino earned his first-career All-Star Game nod and even launched a solo home run in his first at bat of Midsummer Classic. Zunino's 33 home runs this season are the most ever by a Tampa Bay backstop – smashing the previous record of 16 – and the fifth-most in American league history in games played as a catcher. Similarly to Bader and DeSclafani, Zunino set a plethora of career highs this season, doing so in slugging percentage, home runs, runs scored, on-base plus slugging (.860) and OPS+. As the AL East-champion Rays await either the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox in the AL Division Series, Zunino figures to split time with backup catcher Francisco Mejia based on the opposing pitching match-ups.
Darren O'Day | RHP | New York Yankees | UF 2003-06
2021: 0-0, 12 G, 10.2 IP, 3.38 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 4 BB, 11 K
Although O'Day suffered a season-ending hamstring injury in July, he remains an inactive member of the Yankees as the Bronx Bombers embark on their postseason run. He will not compete for New York this October.
Additional Gators in the MLB
Pete Alonso | 1B | New York Mets | UF 2014-16
2021: .262/.344/.519, 37 HR, 3 3B, 27 2B, 94 RBI, 81 R, 60 BB, 134 OPS+ (152 G – 561 AB)
Alonso swatted 37 home runs this season to climb to 106 through his first-three MLB seasons, effectively becoming the second-fastest player to 100 career home runs in MLB history. After winning his second-consecutive Home Run Derby title in July, Alonso finished the regular season ranking third in the National League in home runs and tied-for-11th in RBI.
Shaun Anderson | RHP | San Diego Padres | UF 2014-16
2021: 0-0, 16 G, 23.1 IP, 8.49 ERA, 2.06 WHIP, 12 BB, 19 K, 53 ERA+
Anderson pitched in the big leagues for three different franchises in 2021: the Baltimore Orioles, Minnesota Twins and San Diego Padres.
Dane Dunning | RHP | Texas Rangers | UF 2014-16
2021: 5-10, 27 G (25 GS), 117.2 IP, 4.51 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 43 BB, 114 K, 97 ERA+
After breaking into the MLB with 34.0 innings of 3.97 ERA ball in 2020, Dunning raised his career highs to 117.2 innings pitched and 114 strikeouts.
Jonathan India | INF | Cincinnati Reds | UF 2016-18
2021: .269/.376/.459, 21 HR, 2 3B, 34 2B, 98 R, 69 RBI, 71 B, 12 SB, 113 OPS+ (150 G – 532 AB)
As the odds-on favorite to bring home NL Rookie of the Year honors, India is the first rookie in MLB history with at least 20 home runs, 20 hit-by-pitches and 10 stolen bases in a season. India paced all MLB rookies in OBP, doubles, walks and runs while pacing NL rookies in RBI, extra-base hits and total bases. Alongside Philadelphia's Bryce Harper, he was one of two players in the MLB with at least 96 runs, 33 doubles, 21 home runs, 12 stolen bases and 71 walks this past season.
Mark Kolozsvary | C | Triple-A | Louisville Bats | Cincinnati Reds | UF 2015-17
2021 (AA + AAA): .221/.329/.402, 7 HR, 1 3B, 14 2B, 42 R, 28 RBI, 23 BB (59 G – 204 AB)
It was a year to remember for Kolozsvary, who won a silver medal as Team USA's starting catcher in the Tokyo Olympics and later received his first promotion to the MLB on Sept. 20. Kolozsvary ultimately did not see game action with the Reds, but will enter the 2022 season on the cusp of a big-league debut.
Jackson Kowar | RHP | Kansas City Royals | UF 2016-18
2021 (MLB): 0-6, 9 G (8 GS), 30.1 IP, 11.27 ERA, 2.08 WHIP, 20 BB, 29 K,
2021 (Triple-A): 9-4, 17 G (16 GS), 80.2 IP, 3.46 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 34 BB, 115 K
Kowar was recently named the Kansas City Royals' 2021 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, throwing 80.2 innings at Triple-A Omaha with a 3.46 ERA and 12.8 strikeouts per nine innings.
Richie Martin | SS | Baltimore Orioles | UF 2013-15
2021: .235/.269/.286, 1 HR, 2 2B, 8 RBI, 9 R, 4 BB, 52 OPS+ (37 G – 98 AB)
Due to a wrist fracture that kept him out of action until late July, Martin only accumulated 98 at bats with the Orioles this past season. He experienced two stints with the big-league club in 2021, closing out the season with Baltimore after his second promotion of the year on Sept. 9.
A.J. Puk | LHP | Triple-A | Las Vegas Aviators | Oakland Athletics | UF 2014-16
2021 (MLB): 0-3, 12 G, 13.1 IP, 6.08 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 6 BB, 16 K, 69 ERA+
2021 (Triple-A): 2-5, 1 SV, 29 G (4 GS), 48.2 IP, 6.10 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 19 BB, 58 K
Puk totaled 62.0 innings between Triple-A and the MLB this past season after rehabbing from a left biceps strain in the early stages of the campaign.
Brady Singer | RHP | Kansas City Royals | UF 2016-18
2021: 5-10, 27 GS, 128.1 IP, 4.91 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 53 BB, 131 K, 94 ERA+
Singer closed out his second MLB season strongly, pitching to a 3.65 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 37 innings over his final-seven starts of the year.
Kirby Snead | LHP | Triple-A | Buffalo Bisons | Toronto Blue Jays | UF 2014-16
2021 (MLB): 0-1, 7 G, 7.2 IP, 2.35 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 2 BB, 7 K, 195 ERA+
2021 (Triple-A): 2-0, 4 SV, 36 G (1 GS), 40.0 IP, 1.58 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 16 BB, 57 K
Following his first-career MLB promotion on July 26, Snead made his MLB debut on July 28 and proceeded to pitch 95% above league average across 7.2 big-league innings in 2021.
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Desclafani and Zunino both enter the postseason on teams that delivered the best overall records in their respective leagues this past season. Desclafani's Giants paced the entire MLB with a 107-55 record (.660), while Zunino's Rays posted the best record in the American League at 100-62 (.617). Meanwhile, Bader's Cardinals recently rattled off a franchise-record 17-consecutive wins to earn a spot in Wednesday's National League Wild Card game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The MLB Playoffs begin on Tuesday, Oct. 5 with the AL Wild Card Game. Following the NL Wild Card game on Oct. 6, the Division Series round will kick off on Thursday, Oct. 7. The AL Championship Series will then begin on Friday, Oct. 15 while the NL Championship Series starts on Saturday, Oct. 16.
The 2021 World Series will run from Tuesday, Oct. 26 to Wednesday, Nov. 3 (if necessary).
In total, 14 former Gators appeared on official 26-man rosters in the MLB this past season.
Playoff-Bound Gators
Harrison Bader | OF | St. Louis Cardinals | UF 2013-15
2021: .267/.324/.460, 16 HR, 1 3B, 21 2B, 50 RBI, 45 R, 27 BB, 9 SB (103 G – 401 AB)
As evidenced by being named the NL Player of the Week on Sept. 27, Bader played a vital role in the 17-game winning streak that propelled St. Louis into the postseason. During the previous week of action, Bader hit .517 with three home runs, two stolen bases and a 1.548 OPS. Bader set career highs this season in batting average, slugging percentage, home runs, doubles and RBI. Look for Bader to pick up regular playing time for the Cardinals this October as the team's primary center fielder.
To no one's surprise,@aybaybader is the NL Player of the Week! pic.twitter.com/GR09mHW3mW
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 27, 2021
Anthony DeSclafani | RHP | San Francisco Giants | UF 2009-11
2021: 13-7, 31 GS, 167.2 IP, 2 SHO, 3.17 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 42 B, 152 K, 129 ERA+
To say Desclafani enjoyed a career year on the mound would be an understatement. Alongside staff ace Kevin Gausman and second-year hurler Logan Webb, Desclafani helped to anchor a Giants pitching staff that many thought incapable of qualifying for October baseball at the onset of the season. En route to leading the MLB with two complete-game shutouts, Desclafani set career bests in wins, complete games, shutouts and ERA while pitching 29% better than league average. As the Giants await the winner of Wednesday's Cardinals-Dodgers Wild Card game, expect Desclafani to get the ball in game two of the NL Division Series.
Anthony DeSclafani, 95mph Fastball (foul) and 86mph Slider (sword), Overlay. pic.twitter.com/FVmyIetP5n
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 18, 2021
Mike Zunino | C | Tampa Bay Rays | UF 2010-12
2021: .216/.301/.559, 33 HR, 2 3B, 11 2B, 64 R, 62 RBI, 34 BB, 138 OPS+ (109 G – 333 AB)
This past season, Zunino and fellow Gator great Pete Alonso became the first duo from the same college program to launch 30-plus home runs in the same season since 2017. In the process, Zunino earned his first-career All-Star Game nod and even launched a solo home run in his first at bat of Midsummer Classic. Zunino's 33 home runs this season are the most ever by a Tampa Bay backstop – smashing the previous record of 16 – and the fifth-most in American league history in games played as a catcher. Similarly to Bader and DeSclafani, Zunino set a plethora of career highs this season, doing so in slugging percentage, home runs, runs scored, on-base plus slugging (.860) and OPS+. As the AL East-champion Rays await either the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox in the AL Division Series, Zunino figures to split time with backup catcher Francisco Mejia based on the opposing pitching match-ups.
Mike Zunino brings the 🔨
— Bally Sports Sun: Rays (@BallyRays) October 2, 2021
👀 @RaysBaseball vs. Yankees
📺 Bally Sports Sun pic.twitter.com/u93f6SNhKo
Darren O'Day | RHP | New York Yankees | UF 2003-06
2021: 0-0, 12 G, 10.2 IP, 3.38 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 4 BB, 11 K
Although O'Day suffered a season-ending hamstring injury in July, he remains an inactive member of the Yankees as the Bronx Bombers embark on their postseason run. He will not compete for New York this October.
Additional Gators in the MLB
Pete Alonso | 1B | New York Mets | UF 2014-16
2021: .262/.344/.519, 37 HR, 3 3B, 27 2B, 94 RBI, 81 R, 60 BB, 134 OPS+ (152 G – 561 AB)
Alonso swatted 37 home runs this season to climb to 106 through his first-three MLB seasons, effectively becoming the second-fastest player to 100 career home runs in MLB history. After winning his second-consecutive Home Run Derby title in July, Alonso finished the regular season ranking third in the National League in home runs and tied-for-11th in RBI.
Now Pete Alonso hits No. 37 for a multi-homer game.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) October 1, 2021
Alonso is one of five Mets with multiple seasons of at least 37 homers. The others: Mike Piazza, Dave Kingman, Carlos Delgado and Darryl Strawberry. pic.twitter.com/o7knm5Sj3u
Shaun Anderson | RHP | San Diego Padres | UF 2014-16
2021: 0-0, 16 G, 23.1 IP, 8.49 ERA, 2.06 WHIP, 12 BB, 19 K, 53 ERA+
Anderson pitched in the big leagues for three different franchises in 2021: the Baltimore Orioles, Minnesota Twins and San Diego Padres.
Dane Dunning | RHP | Texas Rangers | UF 2014-16
2021: 5-10, 27 G (25 GS), 117.2 IP, 4.51 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 43 BB, 114 K, 97 ERA+
After breaking into the MLB with 34.0 innings of 3.97 ERA ball in 2020, Dunning raised his career highs to 117.2 innings pitched and 114 strikeouts.
Jonathan India | INF | Cincinnati Reds | UF 2016-18
2021: .269/.376/.459, 21 HR, 2 3B, 34 2B, 98 R, 69 RBI, 71 B, 12 SB, 113 OPS+ (150 G – 532 AB)
As the odds-on favorite to bring home NL Rookie of the Year honors, India is the first rookie in MLB history with at least 20 home runs, 20 hit-by-pitches and 10 stolen bases in a season. India paced all MLB rookies in OBP, doubles, walks and runs while pacing NL rookies in RBI, extra-base hits and total bases. Alongside Philadelphia's Bryce Harper, he was one of two players in the MLB with at least 96 runs, 33 doubles, 21 home runs, 12 stolen bases and 71 walks this past season.
A 💣 for @JonathanIndia's first career four-hit game! pic.twitter.com/q2uarJkfSg
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) September 27, 2021
Mark Kolozsvary | C | Triple-A | Louisville Bats | Cincinnati Reds | UF 2015-17
2021 (AA + AAA): .221/.329/.402, 7 HR, 1 3B, 14 2B, 42 R, 28 RBI, 23 BB (59 G – 204 AB)
It was a year to remember for Kolozsvary, who won a silver medal as Team USA's starting catcher in the Tokyo Olympics and later received his first promotion to the MLB on Sept. 20. Kolozsvary ultimately did not see game action with the Reds, but will enter the 2022 season on the cusp of a big-league debut.
Jackson Kowar | RHP | Kansas City Royals | UF 2016-18
2021 (MLB): 0-6, 9 G (8 GS), 30.1 IP, 11.27 ERA, 2.08 WHIP, 20 BB, 29 K,
2021 (Triple-A): 9-4, 17 G (16 GS), 80.2 IP, 3.46 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 34 BB, 115 K
Kowar was recently named the Kansas City Royals' 2021 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, throwing 80.2 innings at Triple-A Omaha with a 3.46 ERA and 12.8 strikeouts per nine innings.
Congratulations to our Minor League Hitter and Pitcher of the Year!#TogetherRoyal pic.twitter.com/2sd4uX64WT
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) September 24, 2021
Richie Martin | SS | Baltimore Orioles | UF 2013-15
2021: .235/.269/.286, 1 HR, 2 2B, 8 RBI, 9 R, 4 BB, 52 OPS+ (37 G – 98 AB)
Due to a wrist fracture that kept him out of action until late July, Martin only accumulated 98 at bats with the Orioles this past season. He experienced two stints with the big-league club in 2021, closing out the season with Baltimore after his second promotion of the year on Sept. 9.
A.J. Puk | LHP | Triple-A | Las Vegas Aviators | Oakland Athletics | UF 2014-16
2021 (MLB): 0-3, 12 G, 13.1 IP, 6.08 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 6 BB, 16 K, 69 ERA+
2021 (Triple-A): 2-5, 1 SV, 29 G (4 GS), 48.2 IP, 6.10 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 19 BB, 58 K
Puk totaled 62.0 innings between Triple-A and the MLB this past season after rehabbing from a left biceps strain in the early stages of the campaign.
Brady Singer | RHP | Kansas City Royals | UF 2016-18
2021: 5-10, 27 GS, 128.1 IP, 4.91 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 53 BB, 131 K, 94 ERA+
Singer closed out his second MLB season strongly, pitching to a 3.65 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 37 innings over his final-seven starts of the year.
Brady Singer, Nasty 93mph Two Seamer...and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/4NdpXBvyDh
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 20, 2021
Kirby Snead | LHP | Triple-A | Buffalo Bisons | Toronto Blue Jays | UF 2014-16
2021 (MLB): 0-1, 7 G, 7.2 IP, 2.35 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 2 BB, 7 K, 195 ERA+
2021 (Triple-A): 2-0, 4 SV, 36 G (1 GS), 40.0 IP, 1.58 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 16 BB, 57 K
Following his first-career MLB promotion on July 26, Snead made his MLB debut on July 28 and proceeded to pitch 95% above league average across 7.2 big-league innings in 2021.
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