Florida players drafted on Day 1 of the 2024 MLB Draft ft. Jac Caglianone
The 2024 MLB Draft is in full swing as Day 1 has concluded, with the Florida Gators also in action. While there are two more days and 18 more rounds of business to take care of, the top players have started coming off the board.
The Florida Gators finished the 2024 season with a 36-30 record but were eliminated from the postseason in the College World Series. The Gators had just one player who came off the board early.
Take a look at where the one Florida player selected on Day 1 of the 2024 MLB Draft landed.
Florida players drafted on Day 1 of the 2024 MLB Draft
Round 1 picks
#1 Jac Caglianone
Jac Caglianone was the first member of the Florida Gators to hear his name called, as he was selected sixth overall by the Kansas City Royals. The organization announced the selection, tweeting:
"With the sixth pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, we have selected 1B/LHP Jac Caglianone from the University of Florida."
The starting pitcher and first baseman hit .419 batting average, 35 home runs, 72 RBIs, 83 runs scored, 104 hits and a 1.419 OPS. On the mound, he went 5-2 with a 4.76 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 73.2 innings pitched last season.
He hit .355 with 75 home runs, 189 RBIs, 176 runs scored, 225 hits and a 1.207 OPS in his three-year collegiate career. In two years as a pitcher, he went 12-6 with a 4.55 ERA and 170 strikeouts in 148.1 innings pitched.
While most players are forced to choose between pitching or hitting once they reach the professional level, Caglianone appears to be the rare player who will be given the opportunity to try his hand at both. Royals reporter Anne Rogers shared the news, tweeting:
"Jac Caglianone says the plan with the #Royals right now is for him to continue what he did in college as a two-way player. "I’m very thankful they’re giving me the opportunity to do both. I won’t let them down.""
Check out the tweet from Anne Rogers on Jac Caglianone below: