Gators in The Show: July 21
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Dane Dunning (33) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Globe Life Field on July 17.
Photo By: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Friday, July 21, 2023

Gators in The Show: July 21

Erin Robinson
Thirteen Gators have seen action in the big leagues since Opening Day.
With the 2023 Major League Baseball Season now past the All-Star Break, a grand total of 13 Gators have seen action in the big leagues since Opening Day in late March.
 
Florida's MLB contingent is highlighted by Mets All-Star Pete Alonso, breakout Rangers hurler Dane Dunning and Jonathan India of the ascending second-place Reds. It will not be long before the next wave of Gators joins this trio as MLB stars, with more than 20 former UF players scattered throughout the Minor Leagues.
 
The Orange & Blue boasts an extensive history of producing MLB talent, as 81 Gators have reached the sport's ultimate level. 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.
 
Gators in the MLB
 
Pete Alonso | 1B | New York Mets | UF 2014-16
2023: .204/.304/.472, 26 HR, 1 3B, 7 2B, 63 RBI, 51 R, 36 BB, 3 SB, 113 OPS+ (88 G – 324 AB)
 
Making his third All-Star appearance, Alonso competed in his fourth Home Run Derby after launching 26 home runs in the first half, which ranks fifth in the league. He has also driven in 63 runs while hitting 13 percent above league average.
 
Harrison Bader | OF | New York Yankees | UF 2013-15
2023: .243/.276/.422, 7 HR, 2 3B, 6 2B, 31 RBI, 23 R, 6 BB, 8 SB, 91 OPS+ (49 G – 185 AB)
 
Bader made his season debut on May 2, but has unfortunately been plagued by numerous injuries this season. Although he has played in only half of New York's games, Bader has still been able to contribute to the Yankees, driving in 31 runs on seven homers and stealing eight bases in 49 contests.
 
Anthony DeSclafani | RHP | San Francisco Giants | UF 2009-11
2023: 4-8, 18 GS, 95.1 IP, 4.72 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 18 BB, 77K
 
Rebounding from a season-ending injury in 2022, DeSclafani posted a 4-7 record through 17 starts for the Giants before being put back on the injured list due to shoulder fatigue. In his return at the onset of May, DeSclafani fired a season-high eight shutout innings, allowing only three hits against Houston.
 
Dane Dunning | RHP | Texas Rangers | UF 2014-16
2023: 8-2, 13 GS, 99.0 IP, 2.82 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 25 BB, 63 K, 155 ERA+
 
After being stuck at the bottom of the division one year ago, the Rangers currently sit atop of the AL West due to enhanced contributions from players like Dunning. The right-hander has been a key part of Texas' success, posting a strong 8-2 record and pitching 55 percent above league average. The breakout campaign represents the best of Dunning's young career, as his 2.82 ERA and 1.11 WHIP are tops across his four seasons. 
 
Alex Faedo | RHP | Detroit Tigers | UF 2015-17
2023 (MLB): 1-4, 6 GS, 29.2 IP, 6.98 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 4 BB, 28 K
2023 (AAA): 0-2, 7 GS, 26.1 IP, 3.42 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 6 BB, 30 K
 
Faedo has made six appearances in the big leagues this year, throwing a season-high six innings in outings against the Mariners and White Sox in May. At the end of that month, discomfort in his right middle finger forced a trip to the injured list. Faedo was activated on July 7, but was optioned to Triple-A Toledo shortly after.
 
Dalton Guthrie | UTL | Philadelphia Phillies/Atlanta Braves | UF 2015-17
2023 (MLB): .167/.286/.208, 1 2B, 4 R, 3 BB (23 G – 24 AB)
2023 (AAA): .283/.377/.435, 2 HR, 2 3B, 11 2B, 18 R, 13 RBI, 18 BB, 5 SB (35 G – 138 AB)
 
After winning the National League pennant with the Phillies last season, Guthrie opened the 2023 campaign in Philadelphia before making his way through the San Francisco Giants organization and eventually finding a home with the Atlanta Braves. Guthrie currently resides at Triple-A Gwinnett, where he is hitting .313/.476/.375 through his first four games.
 
Jonathan India | INF | Cincinnati Reds | UF 2016-18
2023: .253/.336/.417, 14 HR, 19 2B, 51 RBI, 68 R, 36 BB, 12 SB, 99 OPS+ (97 G – 372 AB)
 
India leads all of Major League Baseball in games played having appeared in all but one contest for Cincinnati this season. The former Gators infielder has been a major reason why the Reds have surprised many with a 52-46 record, sitting just one game back of Milwaukee for first place in the NL Central. During Cincinnati's 12-game winning streak in June, India swatted four home runs and drove in nine.
 
Mark Kolozsvary | C | Baltimore Orioles | UF 2015-17
2023 (MLB): 1 G, 0-for-0
2023 (AAA): .186/.262/.340, 4 HR, 3 2B, 13 RBI, 13 R, 7 BB, 1 SB (30 G – 97 AB)
 
The former Gators backstop has appeared in just one MLB game for Baltimore this year, with the majority of his game action coming at Triple-A. Kolozsvary has struggled to find his offensive footing in 2023, but has produced an admirable .989 fielding percentage across 261 chances behind the dish.
 
Jackson Kowar | RHP | Kansas City Royals | UF 2016-18
2023 (MLB): 0-0, 8 G, 11.2 IP, 6.17 ERA, 1.89 WHIP, 7 BB, 14 K
2023 (AAA): 2-5, 21 G, 1 GS, 30.2 IP, 7.63 ERA, 2.09 WHIP, 27 BB, 36 K
 
Kowar opened the season at Triple-A before being called up and appearing in eight games for Kansas City. While in the bigs, Kowar walked seven and struck out 14 across 11 2/3 innings pitched. He has since been sent back to Triple-A Omaha.
 
A.J. Puk | LHP | Miami Marlins | UF 2014-16
2023: 4-4, 15 SV, 32 G, 30.2 IP, 4.40 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 6 BB, 37 K, 100 ERA+
 
After being traded from Oakland to Miami in the offseason, Puk grabbed hold of the Marlins' closer role and has made 36 appearances out of the bullpen this season. The result has been a career-high 15 saves for the southpaw backed by 37 strikeouts through 30 2/3 frames.
 
Brady Singer | RHP | Kansas City Royals | UF 2016-18
2023 (MLB): 6-8, 19 GS, 102.2 IP, 5.70 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 35 BB, 81K, 77 ERA+
 
Singer pitched his most productive campaign in the big leagues last season, finishing with a 3.23 ERA in 153 1/3 innings. The 2023 campaign has been a slight step back for the fourth-year hurler, as he has posted a 6-8 record for a Kansas City team that sits at the bottom of the league.
 
Danny Young | LHP | Atlanta Braves | UF 2013-15
2023 (MLB): 0-0, 8 G, 8.1 IP, 1.08 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 2 BB, 11 K, 434 ERA+
2023 (Triple-A): 0-0, 16 G, 15.2 IP, 6.32 ERA, 2.11 WHIP, 11 BB, 18 K
 
Young spent the entire season with the Atlanta organization up until his surprising July 19 release, working 24 frames between the big leagues and Triple-A. His time with the Braves proved to be quite productive, as he allowed just one run in 8 1/3 innings while fanning 11 batters against just two walks. With that body of work, it should not take long before Young latches on with a new squad.
 
Mike Zunino | C | Tampa Bay Rays | UF 2010-12
2023: .177/.271/.578, 3 HR, 7 2B, 11 RBI, 11 R, 15 BB, 63 OPS+ (42 G – 124 AB)
 
After spending the last four seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, Zunino signed a one-year deal with the Cleveland Guardians in the offseason. He played in 42 games for the Guardians before being released, hitting three home runs to raise his career total to 149.

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