Florida players in the MLB Draft: 5 Gators who could get picked in 2024 ft. Jac Caglianone
The 2024 MLB Draft will bring together the top high school and college baseball prospects who would likely shape up the professional baseball scene.
The draft is slated for July 14-16 at the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas. The Gators have been one of the most consistent NCAA baseball teams over the past decade, making the College World Series in six of the past 10 seasons. This includes the national title-clinching run in 2017.
Florida was one win shy of winning their second NCAA title in 2023 but LSU shut them down in Game 3, with an 18-4 spanking to eventually capture the crown.
This past season, the Gators had been the opposite, going 28-27, but the NCAA Selection Committee still handed them an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The Kevin O'Sullivan-coached squad took advantage of the opportunity, winning the regional and super regional tournaments and advancing to the College World Series. Florida failed to sustain its momentum though, losing to Texas A&M in the semifinal.
The Gators' CWS run last season helped Wyatt Langford to be picked No. 4 overall in the MLB Draft. This year, a two-way prospect could hear his name called in the Top 3.
So, here are the five Florida players who are most likely to get drafted in the annual event.
5 Florida players who could get drafted in the 2024 MLB Draft
#1. Jac Caglianone, LHP/1B
Jac Caglianone has been arguably the best two-way player in the college baseball scene in the 2020s. He can do damage in both pitching and batting as he went 5-2 with a 4.76 ERA in 16 starts as a pitcher. Caglianone played 73 2/3 innings this season and had 83 strikeouts.
As a batter, 'Jactani' was deadlier, batting .419 to go along with 35 home runs and 72 RBIs this year. He recorded 217 total bases and posted on-base and slugging percentages of .544 and .875, respectively.
Caglianone is projected to land No. 2 or No. 3 overall in various mock drafts as teams in the top three of the annual event are taking a closer look at him.
#2. Brandon Neely, RHP
Brandon Neely was Florida's most dependable pitcher, aside from Caglianone. Unlike the two-way player, Neely thrives in clutch situations as he had five saves this season in 79 total innings.
The right-hander produced the most strikeouts in the team this season with 108, eclipsing Caglianone (83) and Fisher Jameson (79). His ERA numbers were high at 5.10, but this hasn't fazed O'Sullivan from using him in clutch situations.
Neely could get picked within the latter part of the sixth round, possibly with a playoff-caliber team that needs a closer or a setup reliever down the stretch.
#3. Colby Shelton, SS
Colby Shelton is Florida's second-best hitter, in terms of offensive production. The shortstop hit 20 home runs and produced 56 runs for the Gators this past season.
Although Shelton is the fourth-best batter in the lineup at .254, he ranks second in on-base (.374) + slugging (.551) percentage at .925. He is also second in total bases (141), runs (60) and doubles (14).
The six-foot shortstop may likely end up as a late fourth-round selection by either the Texas Rangers or the Arizona Diamondbacks. This is if the teams would base their draft picks on MLB.com's prospect rankings.
#4. Tyler Shelnut, INF/OF
Tyler Shelnut can play multiple positions when inserted on the field and he can smack the baseball with authority. The six-foot-two senior hit .261 with 16 home runs and 52 RBIs this past season.
Shelnut scored 45 runs and 132 total bases while raking in an on-base percentage of .360 and slugging rate of .530. Despite the high offensive numbers, he struggled in at-bats, compiling 88 strikeouts in 249 at-bats.
Shelnut could be selected in the latter rounds of the draft, possibly between the Top 300 and Top 400 range.
#5. Luke Heyman, C
Luke Heyman played in all 66 games for Florida in the 2024 season. The six-foot-four sophomore out of Longwood, Florida drilled 16 homers and drove in 52 runs.
Heyman finished with 127 total bases and tallied 45 runs. He had a combined on-base + slugging percentage of .823 and walked 23 times.
The catcher could get his name called within the Top 300 to Top 400 of the MLB Draft.
Which team will pick Jac Caglianone in the 2024 MLB Draft? Let us know your views in the comments section.