With the 2022 Minor League Baseball season officially in the books, 26 former Gators shift focus to the offseason with their respective organizations.
Of the 26 Gators currently competing in affiliated MiLB, 14 are positioned on Triple-A and Double-A rosters. With those numbers, it is only a matter of time before the next generation of Gators receive the call of a lifetime.
The Orange & Blue boasts a lengthy history of producing MLB talent, as 81 Gators have reached the sport's ultimate level – a total that has steadily risen over the last calendar year thanks to the debuts of catcher Mark Kolozsvary (Cincinnati Reds), right-handed pitcher Alex Faedo (Detroit Tigers), left-hander Danny Young (Seattle Mariners) and utilityman Dalton Guthrie (Philadelphia Phillies).
Dating back to the start of Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan's tenure in 2008, 29 former Florida players have made it to The Show – more than any other program in the country.
Gators in Triple-A
Shaun Anderson | RHP | Triple-A | Buffalo Bisons | Toronto Blue Jays | UF 2014-16
2022 (MLB): 0-0, 1 G, 1.0 IP, 18.00 ERA, 4.00 WHIP, 0 BB, 0 K
2022 (Triple-A): 3-3, 36 G, 15 GS, 88.0 IP, 3.58 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 32 BB, 76 K
Anderson made his lone MLB appearance for Toronto on June 27 against Boston, but spent the remainder of the season in Triple-A. He should be on the big-league radar come 2023 after tossing 88.0 innings of 3.58 ERA ball.
Alex Faedo | RHP | Triple-A | Toledo Mud Hens | Detroit Tigers | UF 2015-17
2022 (MLB): 1-5, 12 GS, 53.2 IP, 5.53 ERA, 1.640 WHIP, 25 BB, 44 K, 69 ERA+
2022 (MiLB): 2-1, 4 G, 2 GS, 15.2 IP, 1.72 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 3 BB, 20 K
Faedo made his MLB debut on May 4 and proceeded to churn out 53 2/3 innings for the Tigers. Unfortunately, his season ended prematurely due to hip surgery and he was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on July 12. Despite the setback, Faedo should open 2023 in the Detroit starting rotation.
Taylor Gushue | C | Triple-A | Rochester Red Wings | Washington Nationals | UF 2012-14
2022 (MiLB): .217/.349/.391, 10 HR, 11 2B, 35 RBI, 28 R, 47 BB (76 G - 235 AB)
After debuting in 2021 with a brief Chicago Cubs cameo, Gushue spent all of 2022 in Triple-A as a part of the Washington organization. Across 517 defensive chances at catcher spread over 56 games, Gushue posted an elite .990 fielding percentage behind the plate.
Eric Hanhold | RHP | Triple-A | Indianapolis Indians | Pittsburgh Pirates | UF 2013-15
2022: 4-4, 10 SV, 44 G, 53.0 IP, 3.40 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 24 BB, 49 K
Hanhold experienced a bounce-back season after a trying 2021, racking up 53.0 innings at Triple-A Indianapolis with a sparkling 3.40 ERA and 10 saves. As a part of a rebuilding Pittsburgh organization, Hanhold has put himself in line for an opportunity at the MLB level moving into next year.
Mark Kolozsvary | C | Triple-A | Louisville Bats | Cincinnati Reds | UF 2015-17
2022 (MLB): .200/.238/.450, 1 HR, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 3 R, 1 BB (10 G – 20 AB)
2022 (MiLB): .163/.303/.279, 3HR, 6 2B, 9 RBI, 18 R, 17 BB, 0 SB (46 G – 129 AB)
Kolozsvary debuted with the Reds on April 20 and launched his first big-league homer on July 23 vs. St. Louis. He spent the bulk of the campaign with Triple-A Louisville, turning in a .989 fielding percentage behind the dish.
Jackson Kowar | RHP | Triple-A | Omaha Storm Chasers | Kansas City Royals | UF 2016-18
2022 (MLB): 0-0, 7 G, 0 GS, 15.2 IP, 9.77 ERA, 2.423 WHIP, 11 BB, 17K
2022 (MiLB): 4-10, 20 G, 20 GS, 83.1 IP, 6.16 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 43 BB, 88 K
Kowar bounced back and forth from Triple-A to MLB for most of the year while trying to regain his footing on the mound. The highlight for the right-hander was striking out at least 9.5 batters per nine innings at both levels.
Richie Martin | SS | Triple-A | Norfolk Tides | Baltimore Orioles |UF 2013-15
2022 (MLB): .167/.242/.300, 2 3B, 3 RBI, 4 R, 3 BB, 3 SB (13 G – 30 AB)
2022 (Triple-A): .250/.341/.380, 2 HR, 6 3B, 20 2B, 25 RBI, 51 R, 32 BB, 29 SB (80 G–292 AB)
Martin played in 13 games for the Orioles, but competed for Triple-A Norfolk for the much of the season. He racked up 29 steals in just 80 games for the Tides.
Preston Tucker | OF | Triple-A | Gwinnett Stripers | Atlanta Braves | UF 2009-12
2022 (Triple-A): .267/.347/.426, 9 HR, 16 2B, 47 RBI, 37 R, 30 BB, 1 SB (75 G – 270 AB)
From 2019-21, Tucker spent three seasons in the Korean Baseball Organization where he hit .284/.372/.466 with 50 homers across 364 games. The Gator Great made a long-awaited return to the United States for the 2022 season, signing a free-agent contract with Atlanta on April 9 and posting a .773 OPS across 75 Triple-A games.
Danny Young | LHP | Triple-A | Gwinnett Stripers | Atlanta Braves | UF 2013-15
2022 (MLB): 0-0, 3 G, 0 GS, 6.1 IP, 4.26 ERA, 2.05 WHIP, 2 BB, 6 K
2022 (Triple-A): 1-2, 40 G, 36.1 IP, 3.72 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 13 BB, 57 K
Young broke into the big leagues on May 9 of this year, making him the 80th Gator to debut in the MLB and the 28th player to do so under O'Sullivan (Dalton Guthrie later became the 81st). The southpaw appeared for both the Mariners and Braves this season, finishing the year at Triple-A Gwinnett with seven-straight scoreless outings and zero runs allowed in 16 of his last 17 games.
Gators in Double-A
Michael Byrne | RHP | Double-A | Chattanooga Lookouts | Cincinnati Reds | UF 2016-18
2022 (MiLB): 2-5, 42 G, 0 GS, 61.1 IP, 4.55 ERA, 1.500 WHIP, 28 BB, 73 K
Byrne split the season between Double-A and Triple-A, but all but 4 2/3 innings came with Chattanooga. On the year, he posted a 10.7 K/9 and concluded with seven scoreless outings in his final nine appearances.
Wil Dalton | OF | Double-A | Portland Sea Dogs | Boston Red Sox | UF 2018-19
2022 (Double-A): .193/.283/.359, 6 HR, 1 3B, 12 2B, 28 R, 21 RBI, 18 BB, 6 SB (69 G – 192 AB)
Due in part to an injury that shelved him from April 25 to May 13, Dalton struggled to find a groove in his first-full season at Double-A.
Nelson Maldonado | OF | Double-A | Tennessee Smokies | Chicago Cubs | UF 2016-19
2022 (MiLB): .279/.330/.458, 12 HR, 31 2B, 65 RBI, 52 R, 29 BB, 6 SB (103 G – 373 AB)
Maldonado played 64 games at Triple-A and 39 at Double-A, but experienced some growing pains at the sport's penultimate level. His 1.031 OPS at Double-A indicates he is likely to get another shot at Triple-A to open 2023.
Buddy Reed | OF | Double-A | Tulsa Drillers | Los Angeles Dodgers | UF 2014-16
2022 (MiLB): .247/.307/.333, 2 HR, 7 2B, 11 RBI, 28 R, 13 BB, 12 SB (52 G - 150 AB)
Reed was gifted with a fresh start with the Dodgers organization this July, where he proceeded to slash .274/.337/.417 across 28 games at Double-A Tulsa.
JJ Schwarz | C | Double-A | Midland RockHounds | Oakland Athletics | UF 2015-18
2022 (MiLB): .294/.383/.453, 9 HR, 9 2B, 43 RBI, 31 R, 41 BB, 2 SB (80 G – 276 AB)
Of Schwarz's 80 games played, 68 came at the Double-A level while the remaining 12 took place at Triple-A. It was a largely successful year for Schwarz, as his .836 OPS and 26 extra-base hits greatly outperformed his previous numbers.
Gators in Single-A
Franco Aleman | RHP | Single-A | Lynchburg Hillcats | Cleveland Guardians | UF 2021
2022 (Single-A): 3-10, 24 G, 8 GS, 6.31 ERA, 1.563 WHIP, 18 BB, 75 K
Aleman struck out 12.1 batters per nine innings with a 4.2 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his first professional season.
Tyler Dyson | RHP | High-A | Wilmington Blue Rocks | Washington Nationals | UF 2017-19
Career: 3-4, 19 G, 15 GS, 65.1 IP, 1.93 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 28 BB, 47 K
Dyson's pro career got off to a great start, as he jumped out to a 1.93 ERA in 65 1/3 frames spread across 2019 and 2021. Unfortunately, he missed all of 2022 due to injury after being placed on the 60-day injured list on April 8.
Jud Fabian | OF | High-A | Aberdeen IronBirds | Baltimore Orioles | UF 2019-22
2022 (MiLB): .333/.455/.615, 3 HR, 2 3B, 9 2B, 19 R, 16 RBI, 19 BB, 1 SB (22 G – 78 AB)
After being selected 67th overall by Baltimore in the 2022 MLB Draft, Fabian posted a 1.070 OPS in his first 22 games as a professional. Most impressively, he walked 19 times against 21 strikeouts while slugging .615.
Nathan Hickey | C | High-A | Greenville Drive | Boston Red Sox | UF 2020-21
2022 (MiLB): .263/.415/.522, 16 HR, 18 2B, 62 RBI, 50 R, 63 BB (75 G – 255 AB)
Hickey performed admirably at both Single-A and High-A in his first-full pro season, hitting .252/.397/.539 at the latter level. Of Hickey's 75 games played, 57 were at catcher and 18 came at designated hitter.
Jack Leftwich | RHP | High-A | Lake County Captains | Cleveland Guardians | UF 2018-21
2022 (MiLB): 8-2, 24 G, 15 GS, 109.1 IP, 2.72 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 24 BB, 140 K
Leftwich had a sensational campaign, finishing with an 11.5 K/9, 2.0 walks per nine and 5.8 K-to-BB ratio while allowing fewer than one baserunner per inning. As a result, he lined himself up to open next season at Double-A.
Tommy Mace | RHP | High-A | Lake County Captains | Cleveland Guardians | UF 2018-21
2022 (Single-A): 1-5, 22 G, 21 GS, 85.0 IP, 4.55 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 38 BB, 75 K
Mace pitched at High-A Lake County for all of 2022, with all but one of his 22 appearances coming as a starter.
Brady McConnell | SS | Low-A | Columbia Fireflies | Kansas City Royals | UF 2018-19
Career: .206/.289/.382, 8 HR, 2 3B, 19 2B, 40 R, 40 RBI, 29 BB, 8 SB (70 G – 267 AB)
McConnell was placed on the injured list on April 8 and missed the remainder of the season thereafter.
Christian Scott | RHP |High-A | Brooklyn Cyclones | New York Mets | UF 2019-21
2022 (MiLB): 3-3, 18 G, 9 GS, 58.2 IP, 4.45 ERA, 1.415 WHIP, 22 BB, 77 K
After beginning the season with Single-A St. Lucie, Scott was promoted to High-A Brooklyn on Aug. 8. He upped his performance following the move, pitching to a 3.80 ERA with a 10.5 K/9 across 21 1/3 High-A frames.
Sterlin Thompson | 3B/RF |Single-A | Fresno Grizzlies | Colorado Rockies | UF 2021-22
2022 (MiLB): .307/.351/.436, 2 HR, 7 2B, 18 R, 10 RBI, 5 BB, 3 SB (26 G – 101 AB)
Thompson's first 26 games as a professional could not have been much more impressive. The highest-drafted outfielder in Gators history was even better at Single-A than he was at Rookie-level, batting .348/.380/.500 over 11 games with Fresno.
Jacob Young | OF | Single-A | Fredericksburg Nationals | Washington Nationals | UF 2019-21
2022 (Single-A): .262/.360/.331, 2 HR, 8 3B, 10 2B, 118 R, 46 RBI, 59 BB, 52 SB (115 G – 465 AB)
Only one player in baseball scored more runs in 2022 than Jacob Young, and his name is Aaron Judge. Young's 118 runs were tied for the most in all of Minor League Baseball and his 52 stolen bases ranked second in the Carolina League. Perhaps most impressively, Young logged over 400 innings in both center field and right field, delivering a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage across 231 defensive chances.
Gators in Rookie Level
Hunter Barco | LHP | Rookie | FCL Pirates | Pittsburgh Pirates | UF 2020-22
2022 (MiLB): Did not pitch
Assigned to the FCL Pirates on Aug. 16, Barco continues to work back from midseason Tommy John Surgery in hopes of debuting sometime in the latter half of the 2023 campaign.
Nick Horvath | OF | Rookie | ACL Angels | Los Angeles Angels | UF 2016-18
2022 (MiLB): Did not compete
Horvath has not competed in affiliated Minor League Baseball since May of 2020, but he signed a free-agent contract with the Angels organization on Sept. 5 and was subsequently assigned to the team's Arizona Complex League affiliate.
Nick Pogue | RHP | Rookie | FCL Nationals | Washington Nationals | UF 2019-22
2022 (MiLB): 0-0, 3 G, 1 GS, 4.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 0 BB, 3 K
After signing a free-agent contract with Washington, Pogue made three Rookie-level appearances including one start. He did not allow a run or walk a batter across four innings while striking out three of the 14 batters he faced.
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