Following his third round selection in the 2022 MLB Draft, Florida RHP Brandon Sproat has made the decision to return to UF for a fourth year.
Sproat was drafted with the No. 90 overall pick by the New York Mets in July following a scorching end to the collegiate season. The value of the nintieth pick is slotted for $691,300. MLB.com’s Jim Callis was the first to report that the Mets and Sproat failed to reach a deal.
Sproat finished the 2022 campaign with a 9-4 record to go along with a 3.41 ERA across seventeen appearances, sixteen starts. The Pensacola, FL native excelled when the Gators needed it the most after Friday night starter Hunter Barco went down with season ending Tommy John surgery. Sproat was especially dominant over his last month and a half of the season, going 5-0 with a 1.59 ERA over his final six starts of the year.
Sproat is the latest returner to the Florida program. Catcher BT Riopelle and infielder Colby Halter announced their returns previously. Josh Rivera announced his return shortly thereafter.
Additionally, the Gators have added an impact arm from the transfer portal in Hurston Waldrep from Southern Miss.