New York Yankees right fielder Marwin Gonzalez (left) and center fielder Harrison Bader (right) celebrate after the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Oct. 4.
Gators Gear Up for MLB Postseason
Thursday, October 6, 2022 | Baseball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – With the 2022 MLB Regular Season concluding on Wednesday, three Gators shift focus to postseason runs in October: Pete Alonso of the New York Mets, Harrison Bader of the New York Yankees and Dalton Guthrie of the Philadelphia Philles.
Two additional former Florida players are pursuing World Series Championship rings as well, but will not be available to compete for their clubs: Darren O'Day of the Atlanta Braves and Mike Zunino of the Tampa Bay Rays. O'Day and Zunino have been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to injury. Even so, both players would be in line to receive a World Series ring should their team ultimately reach the mountain top.
The 2022 MLB Postseason officially begins on Friday, Oct. 7 with the American League and National League Wild Card rounds. Although Bader's Yankees receive a first-round bye, Alonso and the Mets open play on Oct. 7 at home against the San Diego Padres in game one of a three-game series. The Wild Card round lasts until Oct. 9 at the latest.
The AL and NL Division Series runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 17, with coverage on FOX, FS1 and TBS. Thereafter, the NL Championship Series and AL Championship Series are scheduled for Oct. 18 to Oct. 26 on the aforementioned networks.
Game one of the 2022 World Series is set for Friday, Oct. 28 with game seven (if necessary) coming on Saturday, Nov. 5. The entirety of the World Series airs on FOX.
See below for a complete rundown of Gators in the 2022 MLB Postseason.
Playoff-Bound Gators (*denotes player ineligible/injured for the 2022 postseason)
1B Pete Alonso: New York Mets
OF Harrison Bader: New York Yankees
UT Dalton Guthrie: Philadelphia Phillies
*RHP Darren O'Day: Atlanta Braves
*C Mike Zunino: Tampa Bay Rays
Pete Alonso | 1B | New York Mets | UF 2014-16
2022: .271/.352/.518, 40 HR, 27 2B, 131 RBI, 95 R, 67 BB, 5 SB, 146 OPS+ (160 G – 597 AB)
Alonso enjoyed another massive season at the plate, posting the second-highest OPS+ of his career while leading the MLB and setting a new Mets record with a whopping 131 RBI. Alonso's 40 homers mark his most since his record-setting rookie campaign in 2019, when he swatted 53 long balls. He is now the only player in Mets history with multiple 40-homer seasons. Thanks to Alonso's excellent year, the Mets earned their first postseason berth since 2016 and face the San Diego Padres in the NL Wild Card round.
Harrison Bader | OF | New York Yankees | UF 2013-15
2022: .250/.294/.356, 5 HR, 3 3B, 10 2B, 38 R, 30 RBI, 15 BB, 17 SB (86 G – 292 AB)
Although Bader was traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Yankees on Aug. 2, the former Gators standout did not make his Bronx debut until Sept. 20 due to plantar fasciitis that sidelined him since June 27. Bader wasted no time making an impact in pinstripes, going 2-for-3 in his first game with three RBI and one run scored. The Bronxville, N.Y, native aims to make an even bigger impact in October, when his game-breaking speed and defensive prowess that the Yankees traded for can be shown on full display. Despite missing much of the season to injury, Bader still produced a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage across 208 chances in center field while swiping 17 bags in just 86 games. By winning the AL East, the Yankees receive a first-round bye and await the winner of Tampa Bay-Cleveland in the AL Division Series.
Dalton Guthrie | UT | Phildelphia Phillies | UF 2015-17
2022: .333/.500/.476, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3 R, 6 BB, 1 SB (14 G - 21 AB)
Guthrie became the 81st Gator to debut in the Major Leagues on Sept. 6, receiving a promotion to the Phillies following an in injury to outfielder Nick Castellanos. Guthrie totaled just 21 at bats during the regular season, but posted a .976 OPS and 1.000 fielding percentage in that time.
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Two additional former Florida players are pursuing World Series Championship rings as well, but will not be available to compete for their clubs: Darren O'Day of the Atlanta Braves and Mike Zunino of the Tampa Bay Rays. O'Day and Zunino have been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to injury. Even so, both players would be in line to receive a World Series ring should their team ultimately reach the mountain top.
The 2022 MLB Postseason officially begins on Friday, Oct. 7 with the American League and National League Wild Card rounds. Although Bader's Yankees receive a first-round bye, Alonso and the Mets open play on Oct. 7 at home against the San Diego Padres in game one of a three-game series. The Wild Card round lasts until Oct. 9 at the latest.
The AL and NL Division Series runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 17, with coverage on FOX, FS1 and TBS. Thereafter, the NL Championship Series and AL Championship Series are scheduled for Oct. 18 to Oct. 26 on the aforementioned networks.
Game one of the 2022 World Series is set for Friday, Oct. 28 with game seven (if necessary) coming on Saturday, Nov. 5. The entirety of the World Series airs on FOX.
See below for a complete rundown of Gators in the 2022 MLB Postseason.
Playoff-Bound Gators (*denotes player ineligible/injured for the 2022 postseason)
1B Pete Alonso: New York Mets
OF Harrison Bader: New York Yankees
UT Dalton Guthrie: Philadelphia Phillies
*RHP Darren O'Day: Atlanta Braves
*C Mike Zunino: Tampa Bay Rays
Pete Alonso | 1B | New York Mets | UF 2014-16
2022: .271/.352/.518, 40 HR, 27 2B, 131 RBI, 95 R, 67 BB, 5 SB, 146 OPS+ (160 G – 597 AB)
Alonso enjoyed another massive season at the plate, posting the second-highest OPS+ of his career while leading the MLB and setting a new Mets record with a whopping 131 RBI. Alonso's 40 homers mark his most since his record-setting rookie campaign in 2019, when he swatted 53 long balls. He is now the only player in Mets history with multiple 40-homer seasons. Thanks to Alonso's excellent year, the Mets earned their first postseason berth since 2016 and face the San Diego Padres in the NL Wild Card round.
Harrison Bader | OF | New York Yankees | UF 2013-15
2022: .250/.294/.356, 5 HR, 3 3B, 10 2B, 38 R, 30 RBI, 15 BB, 17 SB (86 G – 292 AB)
Although Bader was traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Yankees on Aug. 2, the former Gators standout did not make his Bronx debut until Sept. 20 due to plantar fasciitis that sidelined him since June 27. Bader wasted no time making an impact in pinstripes, going 2-for-3 in his first game with three RBI and one run scored. The Bronxville, N.Y, native aims to make an even bigger impact in October, when his game-breaking speed and defensive prowess that the Yankees traded for can be shown on full display. Despite missing much of the season to injury, Bader still produced a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage across 208 chances in center field while swiping 17 bags in just 86 games. By winning the AL East, the Yankees receive a first-round bye and await the winner of Tampa Bay-Cleveland in the AL Division Series.
Dalton Guthrie | UT | Phildelphia Phillies | UF 2015-17
2022: .333/.500/.476, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3 R, 6 BB, 1 SB (14 G - 21 AB)
Guthrie became the 81st Gator to debut in the Major Leagues on Sept. 6, receiving a promotion to the Phillies following an in injury to outfielder Nick Castellanos. Guthrie totaled just 21 at bats during the regular season, but posted a .976 OPS and 1.000 fielding percentage in that time.
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