Zunino Honored as Member of 2022 UF Athletic Hall of Fame Class
Friday, October 7, 2022 | Baseball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida baseball great and current Tampa Bay Rays catcher Mike Zunino joins an extraordinary group of Gators set to be inducted into the 2022 UF Athletic Hall of Fame class this weekend.
Zunino starred for the Gators as the program's starting catcher from 2010-2012, winning the program's only-ever Golden Spikes Award in 2012. That same year, Zunino was named Baseball America's National College Player of the Year and was the recipient of the NCBWA's Dick Howser Trophy. Zunino was also the 2011 SEC Player of the Year, a two-time First Team All-American (2011, 2012) and a two-time First Team All-SEC honoree (2011, 2012).
The former Florida backstop ranks inside the top-eight all-time for the Gators in fielding percentage (fourth - .995), home runs (fifth - 47), doubles (fifth - 58), slugging percentage (sixth - .620), RBI (seventh - 175) and total bases (eighth - 425). Following his career in Orange & Blue, Zunino became the highest draft pick in program history, going third overall to the Seattle Mariners in 2012. Zunino holds status as a nine-year MLB veteran and is coming off a career-high 33 home runs in 2021 while earning his first-career All-Star Game nod.
UF Athletic Hall of Fame inductees are chosen by the F Club Committee based on three categories: Gator Greats, Distinguished Letterwinners and Honorary Letterwinners. The 2022 class is composed of seven Gator Greats, one Distinguished Letterwinner and one Honorary Letterwinner.
The list of Gator Greats on this year's class includes Jeff Demps (Men's Track & Field & Football), Conor Dwyer (Men's Swimming), Joe Haden (Football), Michelle Moultrie (Softball), Chandler Parsons (Men's Basketball), Christian Taylor (Men's Track & Field) and Zunino (Baseball).
Additionally, Steve Beeland (Men's & Women's Tennis) is set to be inducted to the Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Letterwinner, while former athletics director Jeremy Foley will enter as an Honorary Letterwinner.
Gator Greats are letterwinners who brought recognition and prominence to the University of Florida and themselves through their athletic accomplishments as a student-athlete.
A Distinguished Letterwinner is a letterwinner who has made major contributions to the University athletic program through personal time, effort, interest and through many years of continued service. Additionally, Distinguished Letterwinners must have distinguished themselves as exceptional in their chosen field or endeavor.
An Honorary Letterwinner is a coach or athletic official (after retirement) who was not a letterwinner or athlete at the University of Florida, yet rendered outstanding service to the program through personal time, effort, interest and through many years of continued service.
The Hall of Fame Banquet will take place on Friday, October 7, 2022 prior to the Missouri home football game.
2022 UF Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees
Gator Greats
Jeff Demps (Men's Track & Field & Football) - (2008-2012)
Conor Dwyer (Men's Swimming) - (2009-2011)
Joe Haden (Football) - (2007-2009)
Michelle Moultrie (Softball) - (2009-2012)
Chandler Parsons (Men's Basketball) - (2007-2011)
Christian Taylor (Men's Track & Field) - (2009-2011)
Mike Zunino (Baseball) - (2010-2012)
Distinguished Letterwinner
Steve Beeland (Men's Tennis, 1967 – 1969), (Women's Tennis Head Coach 1982-1984 & Men's Head Coach 1985-1988)
Honorary Letterwinner
Jeremy Foley (Athletic Director, 1992-2016)
Follow the Gators
#GoGators
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
Zunino starred for the Gators as the program's starting catcher from 2010-2012, winning the program's only-ever Golden Spikes Award in 2012. That same year, Zunino was named Baseball America's National College Player of the Year and was the recipient of the NCBWA's Dick Howser Trophy. Zunino was also the 2011 SEC Player of the Year, a two-time First Team All-American (2011, 2012) and a two-time First Team All-SEC honoree (2011, 2012).
The former Florida backstop ranks inside the top-eight all-time for the Gators in fielding percentage (fourth - .995), home runs (fifth - 47), doubles (fifth - 58), slugging percentage (sixth - .620), RBI (seventh - 175) and total bases (eighth - 425). Following his career in Orange & Blue, Zunino became the highest draft pick in program history, going third overall to the Seattle Mariners in 2012. Zunino holds status as a nine-year MLB veteran and is coming off a career-high 33 home runs in 2021 while earning his first-career All-Star Game nod.
UF Athletic Hall of Fame inductees are chosen by the F Club Committee based on three categories: Gator Greats, Distinguished Letterwinners and Honorary Letterwinners. The 2022 class is composed of seven Gator Greats, one Distinguished Letterwinner and one Honorary Letterwinner.
The list of Gator Greats on this year's class includes Jeff Demps (Men's Track & Field & Football), Conor Dwyer (Men's Swimming), Joe Haden (Football), Michelle Moultrie (Softball), Chandler Parsons (Men's Basketball), Christian Taylor (Men's Track & Field) and Zunino (Baseball).
Additionally, Steve Beeland (Men's & Women's Tennis) is set to be inducted to the Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Letterwinner, while former athletics director Jeremy Foley will enter as an Honorary Letterwinner.
Gator Greats are letterwinners who brought recognition and prominence to the University of Florida and themselves through their athletic accomplishments as a student-athlete.
A Distinguished Letterwinner is a letterwinner who has made major contributions to the University athletic program through personal time, effort, interest and through many years of continued service. Additionally, Distinguished Letterwinners must have distinguished themselves as exceptional in their chosen field or endeavor.
An Honorary Letterwinner is a coach or athletic official (after retirement) who was not a letterwinner or athlete at the University of Florida, yet rendered outstanding service to the program through personal time, effort, interest and through many years of continued service.
The Hall of Fame Banquet will take place on Friday, October 7, 2022 prior to the Missouri home football game.
2022 UF Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees
Gator Greats
Jeff Demps (Men's Track & Field & Football) - (2008-2012)
Conor Dwyer (Men's Swimming) - (2009-2011)
Joe Haden (Football) - (2007-2009)
Michelle Moultrie (Softball) - (2009-2012)
Chandler Parsons (Men's Basketball) - (2007-2011)
Christian Taylor (Men's Track & Field) - (2009-2011)
Mike Zunino (Baseball) - (2010-2012)
Distinguished Letterwinner
Steve Beeland (Men's Tennis, 1967 – 1969), (Women's Tennis Head Coach 1982-1984 & Men's Head Coach 1985-1988)
Honorary Letterwinner
Jeremy Foley (Athletic Director, 1992-2016)
Follow the Gators
#GoGators
Florida Baseball | A Day in the Life with Cole Stanford
Sunday, December 28
Florida Baseball | The Righties | Meet the Gators
Saturday, December 06
Meet the Gators: The Righties
Friday, December 05
Florida Baseball | Mic'd Up with Sam Miller
Tuesday, November 25
